Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Apress
Book cover

The Career Programmer

Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World

  • Book
  • © 2006

Overview

Authors:
  1. Christopher Duncan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • The crucial wisdom-guide to surviving within the programming industry in 2006. Provides raw material for surviving and thinking smart in today's industry. Delivered with the wit and aplomb to make a serious topic entertaining and palatable

  • TE Conquer Master self-defense techniques to shield yourself, your project, and your code from corporate politics, arbitrary management decisions, and marketing-driven deadlines

  • Explains how the individual programmer or project manager can work within the existing system to solve deadline problems and regain control of the development process

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this book

Log in via an institution
eBook USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

Licence this eBook for your library

Institutional subscriptions

Table of contents (16 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxxii
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Software Development in an Imperfect World

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
      Download chapter PDF

    2. Welcome to the Corporate World

      Pages 3-20

    3. Business is War. Meet the Enemy.

      Pages 21-43

    4. Good Coding Skills Are Not Enough

      Pages 45-56

  3. Guerilla Tactics for Front-Line Programmers

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 57-57
      Download chapter PDF

    2. Preventing Arbitrary Deadlines

      Pages 59-73

    3. Getting Your Requirements Etched in Stone

      Pages 75-93

    4. Effective Design Under Fire

      Pages 95-110

    5. Practical Estimating Techniques

      Pages 111-125

    6. Fighting for Quality Assurance

      Pages 127-140

    7. Keeping the Project Under Control

      Pages 141-157

    8. Managing Your Management

      Pages 159-173

    9. Corporate Self-Defense

      Pages 175-186

  4. Building a Better Career

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 187-187
      Download chapter PDF

    2. Controlling Your Destiny

      Pages 189-199

    3. Get a Job (Sha na na na...)

      Pages 201-218

    4. Career 2.0

      Pages 219-229

    5. Flying Solo

      Pages 231-243

    6. Job Security

      Pages 245-259
Back to top

Keywords

About this book

Unrealistic schedules, unstable releases, continual overtime, and skyrocketing stress levels are legendary in the software development industry. Unlike traditional occupations such as accounting or administration, the software business is populated with programmers who are as creative and passionate about their work as musicians and artists. But for most programmers and project managers, it is a complete surprise when they enter the business world and find that internal politics, inept management, and unrealistic marketing drive the process, rather than a structured and orderly approach based on technical issues and quality.

This guide, delivered with the wit and aplomb to make a serious topic entertaining and palatable, will help you survive the programming industry. The Career Programmer explains how you can work within the existing system to solve deadline problems and regain control of the development process. Youll master self-defense techniques to shield yourself, your project, and your code from corporate politics, arbitrary management decisions, and marketing-driven deadlines. Author Chris Duncan provides proven, practical, hands-on solutions designed to work even when tested by the political and chaotic realities of the business environment. Issues are addressed from the points of view of both the programmer and project manager, and steps are illustrated from all perspectivesfrom large-scale teams down to projects with a single developer. For you, the end results will mean less overtime and stress, higher-quality software, and a more satisfying career.

About the author

Founder of Practical Strategy Consulting, Christopher Duncan is the bestselling author of Unite the Tribes and The Career Programmer. He's been a frequent guest on radio shows across the country, his monthly columns have been read by hundreds of thousands worldwide, and he is widely acclaimed for his immensely practical approach to success in the real world where self interest and office politics are often more prevalent than common sense. This keen insight does not come by accident. Christopher has an unusually diverse background which includes a career in sales consulting, life as a professional musician, and experience fighting deadlines as a cubicle-dwelling software developer. He's also performed mind-numbing factory work, labored on construction sites, and built components for guided missiles. Currently, he writes, speaks and mentors professionals on career and business strategies. He understands the problems and goals of your people, from the lowest-paid workers to the executive elite, because he's been there himself and lived to tell the tale. Whether he's talking about the job-related anxieties of the night watchman's attack chihuahua or explaining the relationship between bunny slippers and corporate productivity, his humor and light-hearted antics will entertain your audience as he shares his vision of success through the pursuit of American excellence. Lively, expressive, and a consummate professional with three decades of stage experience, Christopher delivers an exciting and practical message to your people, inspiring them to reach for their very best and showing them how to get there in the real world, where things don't always go according to plan. Most importantly, he makes sure that everyone has a little fun in the process. He can be reached at www.PracticalStrategyConsulting.com.

Bibliographic Information

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Back to top

Search

Navigation