A rare book: it does not describe "software engineering as it should be" but the pitfalls that real organizations keep stumbling into. The author spent years in development and development management at Microsoft, distilling the most controversial and most practical views from his internal column into this book: why development schedules are always absurdly optimistic, why specifications often go unfinished and unused, how quality reviews can avoid becoming mere formality, and how a strong technical contributor transitioning into management can avoid becoming "the embodiment of evil." It is divided into 10 chapters by theme, each with a brief introduction; the pieces are short and can be read as needed rather than from cover to cover. The Chinese edition, translated by Lin Feng, retains the original's teasing tone and Microsoft internal terminology and adds background notes, so readers unfamiliar with Microsoft culture can follow it. For developers, testers, project leads, or those new to managing a team, its value lies in providing a "problem checklist" to compare against and discuss—many issues you cannot raise in a meeting are already articulated in the book. If you have read Code Complete and liked its solid engineering perspective, this book can be seen as the other half of the same lineage, more focused on people and organizations.
This book is a collection of the "Hard Code" column written inside Microsoft by senior development manager Eric Brechner under the pen name I. M. Wright. The Chinese edition is translated from the 2011 second English edition and is billed as a companion volume to Code Complete. It contains 91 columns organized into 10 thematic chapters, summarizing more than 90 problems that recur across software projects—often overlooked or left unfixed for long periods—from perspectives including software development process, technical methods, project management, team management, and interpersonal communication, with cause analysis and improvement suggestions for each. Chapter 1 discusses how to ensure on-time delivery by managing risk, scope, and communication; Chapter 2 introduces methods and techniques for process improvement and explains why such methods rarely work; Chapter 3 discusses strategies for eliminating inefficiency, such as specifications, meetings, and idle headcount; Chapter 4 focuses on the relationship between developers and other roles such as testing and project management; Chapter 5 focuses on software quality issues and review practices; Chapter 6 analyzes the fundamentals and complexity of software design; Chapter 7 discusses career planning and performance review; Chapter 8 analyzes communication breakdowns and corrective measures; Chapter 9 discusses how to manage well—how technical managers should behave; Chapter 10 analyzes challenges facing the software business and organizational culture. Each column opens with a concrete scenario, then dissects the root of the problem, and finally offers actionable advice; the author's language is witty and often borrows song lyrics, movie titles, and slang for headings. The book does not preach abstract theory and is suitable for readers facing real-project dilemmas such as schedule slippage, quality loss, and poor communication, as well as for team discussion.
In addition to science and technology and professional publishing, the books in our catalog from China Machine Press also reflect a sustained focus on psychology, computing, management, finance and economics, and social sciences. In psychology, the catalog includes works by C. G. Jung and introductions to analytical psychology, as well as applied topics such as stress and health, and addiction and healing. In computing, it features Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (JavaScript Edition). Management and finance titles include Administrative Behavior (4th Edition), The Price of Inequality (Collector's Edition), and This Time Is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly (Commemorative Edition). In the philosophy and history of science, there is The Worldview: The Third Edition. Relevant authors include C. G. Jung, William McGuire, Sonu Shamdasani, and Gabor Maté. Public information is limited; the above summarizes the publisher's profile based solely on the books in our catalog.
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