ISBN:0735619492Book Description
Apply what you know about extreme programming and object-oriented design to learning C# and the Microsoft® .NET Framework on the fly. Author Ron Jeffries, a leading voice and practitioner in the extreme programming movement, demonstrates how to apply its key concepts—including the use of customer stories, customer acceptance tests, and "Spikes"—and the fundamental techniques of Simple Design, Test-Driven Development, and Refactoring to create practical, .NET-ready applications. You'll also learn how to use NUnit, a unit-testing tool for .NET languages. This essential, high-level reference provides the expert guidance, hands-on insights, and downloadable code you need to build an XML editor, a database application, a Web service, and other useful applications—quickly extending your extreme programming expertise to .NET and helping you deliver business value right away./p>
Reviews From AMAZON.COM
Wonderful read, informative, some assembly required...
I noticed that one reviewer below had issues with the code matching the text. I will start with saying this is sometimes true. Some things were not exactly as the text assumed them to be if you were typing in text as you went along. Now, let me say that none of the omissions were that horrific. I actually learned a lot from figuring out how to get the code to compile and get all of the tests to pass even when the in-text code wasn't as it should have been. I learned a bit about internal C# structure this way as well. I should note that this was also my first exposure to C# as well. But I do have a few years of C and java under my belt (I skipped C++, why go partially OO? ;). And none of the code is really disconnected as the previous reviewer implied. The only disconnects I noticed were those between code previously written and the current code in some sections of the book. The examples always matched the narrative.
All that being said, as Mr. Cabral pointed out, the book is not about the code. It is about a process and methodology. And it covers that material thoroughly and amiably. Mr. Jeffries' writing style makes you feel like he's sitting with you over coffee relating a tale about some issues he had on a road trip. You could almost call the book, "Zen and the Art of Test Driven Development."
All in all, I highly recommend the book. And I highly suggest the other reviewer pick the book back up and work through it. It's worth it. Don't even worry about the code. Learn the process.
The only reason I don't give the book five stars is that the code issues weren't intentional. I might leave the code as it is but note the omissions and leave them as exercises for the reader if they so desire.
However, to Mr. Jeffries, I took copious notes in the book and saved versions using SVN as I worked through the code. So if you want the notes and/or the archive let me know - kevin dot gp at gmail.
A very human book to add to your technical library.
Ron Jeffries has been in the industry far longer than many, and his deep and personal insight is very valuable to the modern programmer.
This book is not about source code. It's marginally about a software project. It's about the process of making decisions, developing habits, coping with personal style, knowing one's shortcomings, and listening to intuition. It reveals the mind of a master craftsman plying his trade.
Ron is kind enough to provide a constant stream of knowledge gems in the form of "soundbyte" tips and literature references. Cull it for the bibliography alone and you'll get your money's worth.
Mr. Jeffries makes programming a human task. How many of us have been asked to develop something far beyond our knowledge using previously unknown tools? I believe programmers who read this book will gain confidence and pride in their trade.