tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10846234.post3527314385605883422..comments2023-06-22T09:51:55.639+01:00Comments on BOBABLOG: Agile software development and Salesforce: A reading list for our developersRob Bailliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06513796097645814224noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10846234.post-23265234041960190272008-09-06T00:52:00.000+01:002008-09-06T00:52:00.000+01:00This is a great list, and it's gotten me to finall...This is a great list, and it's gotten me to finally toss Fowler into my Amazon checkout queue. <BR/><BR/>I found the GoF "Design Patterns" book rough going without some accompanying exegesis -- I'd put the HeadFirst book next to it as a twofer.<BR/><BR/>I'd add "Envisioning Information" by Tufte.fliphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07422811412271644157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10846234.post-8334362583627235022008-04-13T18:00:00.000+01:002008-04-13T18:00:00.000+01:00Stew, it seems the team agree with you and have go...Stew, it seems the team agree with you and have got into the idea with gusto.<BR/><BR/>There's a chance that we might have to turn up the dial a little and hand out more than was originally planned.Rob Bailliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06513796097645814224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10846234.post-83576753525761990202008-04-10T15:47:00.000+01:002008-04-10T15:47:00.000+01:00I don't think it's unreasonable to expect your pro...I don't think it's unreasonable to expect your programmers to read, or at least skim, one new book every 3 months.<BR/><BR/>As a software developer with 25 years under my belt (but I'm not a software engineer), I've felt for a long time that if you're not constantly learning new things about this craft, then you're falling behind. Subscribing to computer mags is one thing, but scanning the web for new tools and ideas about your specific work is a <B>must-do</B>. And reading significant works by solid authors is another. I still refer people to "The Mythical Man-Month", which sits on my office bookshelf.Stewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05177922393895344852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10846234.post-34763278517007725852008-03-30T19:33:00.000+01:002008-03-30T19:33:00.000+01:00Good points Phil. I'll have to check out that HBR...Good points Phil. I'll have to check out that HBR article.<BR/><BR/>You're right. I shouldn't have been surprised when the team were up for the idea - after all, if they were the type of people to shirk such ideas we wouldn't have hired them in the first place.<BR/><BR/>It's funny though, having spoken to people outside of software development, even those for whom I have a lot of professional respect, there seemed to be a general opinion of "you can't really ask your team to do that". Maybe it was just the particular people I spoke to; maybe there's a more general apathy in the rest of the working world?Rob Bailliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06513796097645814224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10846234.post-3753927834686045932008-03-30T11:05:00.000+01:002008-03-30T11:05:00.000+01:00The latest Harvard Business Review touches on your...The latest Harvard Business Review touches on your questions in an article discussing the tension between training and promotion in-house and hiring from outside.<BR/><BR/>What I took away was that absolutely you can ask staff to contribute to the learning process through use of their own time (or possibly even more than that) since there is no obligation on you to develop them in this way in the first place. You just need to make sure it's opt-out.<BR/><BR/>For new hires, I'd ask the question in an interview ('We have a scheme where the company provides books from a standard reading list for free. If you take the sceme up you're obviously expected to read them in your own time. If you join us would you be interested?'). Anything less than enthusiasm for the idea is probably a red flag since who wouldn't want free books?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10846234.post-33501251636702567822008-03-27T16:05:00.000+00:002008-03-27T16:05:00.000+00:00Nice one Andy - Refactoring gets my vote too.I've ...Nice one Andy - Refactoring gets my vote too.<BR/><BR/>I've not read "The Effective Executive" though, maybe that should hit my own reading list...Rob Bailliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06513796097645814224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10846234.post-61025734817392013152008-03-26T21:52:00.000+00:002008-03-26T21:52:00.000+00:00Also check this post out for other ideas:http://fe...Also check this post out for other ideas:<BR/><BR/>http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MusingsOfASoftwareDevelopmentManager/~3/256820009/Andrew Beacockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01039992884679308726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10846234.post-78176832461179917372008-03-26T21:49:00.000+00:002008-03-26T21:49:00.000+00:00What about Fowler's classic "Refactoring"?I'd also...What about Fowler's classic "Refactoring"?<BR/><BR/>I'd also add Peter Drucker's "The Effective Executive" and no it's not a business book, Drucker considers any thought worker to be an executive.Andrew Beacockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01039992884679308726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10846234.post-3245444678118086942008-03-25T22:33:00.000+00:002008-03-25T22:33:00.000+00:00I wouldn't have a problem with reading educational...I wouldn't have a problem with reading educational books in my time. But heavy volumes can be a real pain on public transport.<BR/>Also consider a way of circulating articles, white papers and presentations.SydOraclehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08828771074492585943noreply@blogger.com