Unit testing. You've heard the term. Probably a lot. You know you should probably figure out how it works, since everyone's always talking about it and a lot of companies require developers to know it. But you don't really know it and you're worried that you'll look uninformed if you cop to not knowing it. Well, relax. This book assumes you have absolutely no idea how it works and walks you through the practice from the very beginning. You'll learn the basics, but more importantly, you'll learn the business value, the path to walk not to get frustrated, what's testable and what isn't, and,...

In The Expert Beginner, Dietrich traces the path of this programmer from rise to inevitable downfall. The author describes the development of the expert beginner's mindset, explaining how one might believe in the achievement of total mastery while faced with evidence to the contrary. He then shows how, if put in a position of power, this person will poison entire software groups and create a culture of stagnation. Part commentary on technical groups and part sociological analysis/office taxonomy, The Expert Beginner tells a story. This story, as it turns out, is about more than just an...

It's been said that software is eating the planet. The modern economy-the world itself-relies on technology. Demand for the people who can produce it far outweighs the supply. So why do developers occupy largely subordinate roles in the corporate structure? Developer Hegemony explores the past, present, and future of the corporation and what it means for developers. While it outlines problems with the modern corporate structure, it's ultimately a play-by-play of how to leave the corporate carnival and control your own destiny. And it's an emboldening, specific vision of what software...