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Product: Book - Paperback
Title: VI Editor Pocket Reference Publisher: O'Reilly Authors: Arnold Robbins Rating: 4/5  This is a nice little pocket review. It's basically something you can get anywhere on the web packaged and bound with a pretty cover with an O'Reilly animal on it. I isn't really special in any way, but it's all that it is advertised.
Product: Book - Paperback
Title: Agile Software Development Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional Authors: Alistair Cockburn Rating: 4/5 When I started reading this book I was not a fan of XP, but certainly in favour of lighter methodologies. The book is unusual (amongst IT books) in the sense that it starts off with patterns of human communication. In fact the first three chapters - which analyses game-play, individual communication modes, and team cooperation - covers about 40% of the book. However, it was this section of the book that won me over and convinced me about the basis of the "methodologies" such as XP. But for me personally the most practical and relevant chapter was Chapter 5: "Agile and self-adapting". In this chapter Cockburn covers issues such as how much documentation, team structures, and most importantly: a methodology growing technique. This chapter is closely followed in importance by chapter 4: "Methodologies". In this chapter Cockburn covers methodology concepts and design principles, including how to publish and introduce (role out) a methodology (before going on to dissect XP). Chapter 6: "The crystal methodologies" consolidates these ideas. Cockburn takes you along while describing and shaping his family of Crystal methodologies. The book is rounded of with the agile software development manifesto, a formal proposal drawn up by several software authors; and philosophical contributions from other authors. Many good references can be found in the appendix. Cockburn acknowledges that the chosen methodology must fit issues such as the project and team size and environment. And although I can see the benefits of many aspects of the agile philosophy, there are other aspects I am still cynical about. However, my review is not about XP, but about this book. And the book is well written, well argued, sensible, with plenty of stories and examples, which makes it easy to read. In my case, Cockburn was NOT preaching to the converted, and I gained much value from reading the book. It helped me to question some of my preconceived ideas and long-held views.
Product: Book - Hardcover
Title: Data Structures & Algorithms in Java (Mitchell Waite Signature Series) Publisher: Waite Group Press Authors: Mitchell Waite, Robert Lafore Rating: 4/5 Last chapter of when to use what is great! Don't like implementations of data structures however, not generic enough for handling any kind of object.
Product: Book - Paperback
Title: eBay for Dummies, Fourth Edition Publisher: For Dummies Authors: Marsha Collier Rating: 3/5  I'm not a big fan of the dummies books but I thought I would give this book a try. Although I did find some useful tidbits I prefer the Greg Holden book on eBay. His book was more informative and the writing style is much better. If your a fan of the dummy books you will probably like this book but if you prefer a more professional writing style look elsewhere.
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