ShipIt!: Essential Habits
Ship It!: A Practical Guide to Successful Software Projects, Jared Richardson, William Gwaltney Jr. Pragmatic Bookshelf.
“You can only steer a boat if it’s moving!”
If you want to produce reliable software, then this is the book on how to go about it. The authors have done a fantastic job of collating essential software building habits in a clear and concise book. Even if you already know that build scripts, testing harnesses, continuous integration and code reviews aid in building great code, the book provides tips on how to get started and integrate those practices as routine activities.
As a developer, I found the section on "Problems and How to Fix Them" particularly relevant and particularly liked the suggestions on how to both inform and sell to management. The authors have recommended their favourite tools and products, and listed many alternatives. Though easy to read, it's packed with practicality and subsequent reviews will remind you of more tidbits to add to your bag of tricks.
Many thanks to guest reviewer, Simon Mawkes.