|
Edgar Allan Poe Helps Solve 21st Century
Crime in The Reverse Detective: Pragmatic Software Requirements & Analysis
by Thomas A.
Bullinger with Sandeep Mitra
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (January 10, 2007) Edgar Allan Poe,
recognized as the father of the mystery story, would never have
imagined becoming part of a software development manual in the
21st century. Yet, his method of solving crime is a large part
of a new book by software engineer, Thomas A. Bullinger, written
with Sandeep Mitra.
The average business owner is as clueless about software
development as most citizens are about crime solving, despite
the popularity of TV shows such as CSI and Law and
Order. While it’s fun to watch TV sleuths solve murder
mysteries, when the crime is a breakdown in communications or
software engineering in our offices, those of us who are
computer literate but not computer savvy, have to admit defeat.
We know we need solutions, and we know the answer is often found
in specifically designed software – but how that software gets
written is beyond our comprehension. This new book by author
Thomas A. Bullinger, with co-author, Sandeep Mitra, turns that
unknown upside-down, offering a peek into the successful
creation of customized software solutions, from first need to
final approval.
“We think software failure is a crime,” says Bullinger. “And the
key is to solve the crime before it happens. In other words, to
do things in reverse. Using our method prevents mistakes by
precisely determining and modeling the right requirements before
you begin writing code.”
By utilizing Sherlock Holmes and Edgar Allan Poe in the most
unusual roles of their fictional lives, Bullinger and Mitra have
removed the veil of mystery surrounding software development and
created a way for the average non-geek to “figure out” how the
average geek does it – and does it well. The authors believe
that “when you put The Reverse Detective process to work,
you’ll minimize the chance of blown budgets, missed deadlines,
endless revision rounds, and other career-busting problems.” The
success is in the “clues” – little steps taken that unravel the
mystery and reveal the solution.
While the role of the software engineer and the role of the
detective seem to have no relationship, whatsoever, the authors
of The Reverse Detective suggest that the relationship is
based “not in what they each do, but rather in their
methodology: how they go about doing it.”
The Reverse Detective: Pragmatic Software Requirements &
Analysis is intended for anyone who has a stakehold in their
company’s software development – including business managers,
project managers, process owners and hands-on software
engineers. The book would also be an excellent addition to the
reading list for a course on software development.
About WMEBooks.com
WME Books, an Author Services company offers customized
publishing assistance for the author in search of excellence.
The Reverse Detective can be purchased at the WME Books’ online
bookstore at www.wmebooks.com,
and will be offered at Amazon.com soon. All books published by
WME Books are also featured on the company’s publishing blog,
http://www.ahablog.com |
