I. M. Wright's Hard Code »

Eric Brechner is Director of Development Excellence in the Engineering Excellence business group at Microsoft Corporation. He began writing "Hard Code" in 2001 as an internal resource for Microsoft employees, hoping to initiate an ongoing discussion of best practices among development engineers.

Get the brutal truth about coding, testing, and project management—from a Microsoft insider who tells it like it is. I. M. Wright’s deliberately provocative column “Hard Code” has been sparking debate amongst thousands of engineers at Microsoft for years. And now (despite our better instincts), we’re making his opinions available to everyone.

In this collection of 49 columns, Eric Brechner’s alter ego pulls no punches with his candid commentary and best practice solutions to the issues that irk him the most. He dissects the development process, examines tough team issues, and critiques how the software business is run—with the added touch of clever humor and sardonic wit. His ideas aren’t always popular (not that he cares), but they do stimulate the discussion and imagination needed to drive software excellence.

Get the unvarnished truth on how to:

• Improve software quality and value—from design to security
• Realistically manage project schedules, risks, and specs
• Trim the fat from common development inefficiencies
• Apply process improvement methods—without being an inflexible fanatic
• Drive your own successful, satisfying career
• Don’t be a dictator—develop and manage a thriving team!

Companion Web site includes:

• Agile process documents
• Checklists, templates, and other resources

Reader Acclaim for I. M. Wright’s "Hard Code" ColumnForewordIntroduction Chapter 1: Project MismanagementChapter 2: Process Improvement, Sans MagicChapter 3: Inefficiency EradicatedChapter 4: Cross DisciplinesChapter 5: Software Quality—More Than a DreamChapter 6: Software Design If We Have TimeChapter 7: Adventures in Career DevelopmentChapter 8: Personal Bug FixingChapter 9: Being a Manager, and Yet Not Evil IncarnateChapter 10: Microsoft, You Gotta Love ItGlossaryAbout the Author