Reviews

A Good Novel About IT and DevOps

In the novel “The Phoenix Project: A Novel About IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win”, the protagonist Bill is promoted against his will and must immediately take over, be...

work-related agile project-management devops review

Sep 07, 2016 Read more arrow_forward

A very good introduction to the best testing framework for the Java platform

In my opinion, the Spock Framework is currently the most convenient testing framework for the Java platform. Since it is built on the Groovy language, it is very expressive.

software-engineering tdd review jvm

Aug 12, 2016 Read more arrow_forward

Planning is an Agile Process

In “Agile Estimating and Planning”, Mike Cohn excellently explains the problems associated with project planning and effort estimation and presents “agile estimating and planning” as a solution.

work-related agile project-management review

Jul 28, 2016 Read more arrow_forward

'Lag' and how to minimize it

Every multiplayer gamer knows it: “Lag”. When you see an opponent too late or you are certain you hit them a hundred percent, but the game decides otherwise: the culprit...

games review c++

Jun 01, 2016 Read more arrow_forward

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Reviewer of Introducing Data Science

I bought the book in early access (MEAP) and decided to help as a reviewer.

software-engineering review

May 31, 2016 Read more arrow_forward

Good Presentations Make You Look Good

Neal Ford and Nathaniel Schutta have created a video training course for their 2012 book “Presentation Patterns: Techniques for Crafting Better Presentations”.

work-related review agile

Apr 13, 2016 Read more arrow_forward

Learning to Program Playfully with 'Human Resource Machine'

With the computer game Human Resource Machine, you can learn the basics of low-level programming in a playful way.

games review

Apr 05, 2016 Read more arrow_forward

How Business Models Are Fun - A Reading Experience

“Business Model Generation” is an excellent introduction to the complex topic of “business models.” The book covers business models, their creation, and further adaptation using the “Business Model Canvas.”

work-related review

Aug 07, 2015 Read more arrow_forward

Good Hands-on Introduction to Apache Spark

Anyone who wants to learn the basics of Spark is well-advised to read the book “Learning Spark”. I particularly liked that the book is very practice-oriented and that you can...

big-data review distributed object-functional

Jul 06, 2015 Read more arrow_forward

A very good introduction to Scala

Scala is an important milestone in the fusion of functional and object-oriented programming. This fusion is not yet complete, but rather a “discovery process” that will continue for a few...

software-engineering scala review jvm object-functional

Jun 17, 2015 Read more arrow_forward

Definitive Overview of the Hadoop Ecosystem

The Hadoop ecosystem has grown significantly over time. “Hadoop: The Definitive Guide” provides an overview of the framework’s most important topics and projects.

big-data review distributed

Jun 02, 2015 Read more arrow_forward

Good Introduction to 'Data Culture', but Too Uncritical

In “Data Driven - Creating a Data Culture”, the authors explain what they mean by a “data culture”.

big-data review

May 15, 2015 Read more arrow_forward

Essential Reading in the Field of Security

In the book “Beyond Fear: Thinking Sensibly About Security in an Uncertain World”, written back in 2003, Bruce Schneier writes about security in a very general sense. He specifically refers...

science review

May 07, 2015 Read more arrow_forward

3D Printing and Industry 4.0 for Small Businesses

In “Makers: The New Industrial Revolution” (German title: “Makers: Das Internet der Dinge: die nächste industrielle Revolution”), Chris Anderson describes how industrial manufacturing processes using CAD, 3D printing, and/or outsourcing...

science review

May 02, 2015 Read more arrow_forward

OO with JavaScript Excellently Explained

JavaScript has a prototype-based approach to object orientation. This makes it very different from the common object-oriented programming languages, such as Java, C++, and Ruby.

software-engineering javascript review

Apr 04, 2015 Read more arrow_forward

Java MapReduce with Hadoop

MapReduce is a “corset” and forces the developer into narrow boundaries. Therefore, it makes sense to read “MapReduce Design Patterns” to quickly learn the common tricks and techniques. It is...

big-data review data distributed

Mar 27, 2015 Read more arrow_forward

A Good Introduction to C++ AMP

“C++ AMP: Accelerated Massive Parallelism with Microsoft Visual C++” is a good introduction to programming with C++ AMP. Unfortunately, at the time of this review, it is the only book...

gpu-computing review c++ parallelism concurrency gpu-computing

Mar 16, 2015 Read more arrow_forward

The Best Book on OpenCL 1.x

What makes “OpenCL in Action: How to Accelerate Graphics and Computation” special is that the author, Matthew Scarpino, truly tries to explain the programs. You learn the reasons behind his...

gpu-computing review c++ parallelism concurrency gpu-computing opencl

Feb 23, 2015 Read more arrow_forward

Advanced 'git'

I have been using git for a few years now, but I wanted to gain more background knowledge and learn about more complex workflows. The book “Git in Practice” succeeded...

software-engineering review

Jan 29, 2015 Read more arrow_forward

Too Short an Introduction to PaaS

“Understanding PaaS” is a very small booklet about the basics of cloud computing. It can be read to get a very quick introduction to the topic. It is written more...

software-engineering review

Jan 27, 2015 Read more arrow_forward

Solid Optimization Tips for CUDA

While browsing through “CUDA Fortran for Scientists and Engineers”, I noticed that the authors provide valuable optimization tips. That piqued my curiosity.

gpu-computing review c++ parallelism concurrency nvidia-cuda gpu-computing

Jan 26, 2015 Read more arrow_forward

An Almost Definitive Introduction to MongoDB

“MongoDB: The Definitive Guide” is a well-rounded overview of MongoDB from both a developer and a DBA perspective. At least as far as I can tell as a MongoDB beginner...

software-engineering review data javascript

Jan 16, 2015 Read more arrow_forward

Only partially elegant

In the first part of “The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory”, the foundations of relativity and quantum mechanics are explained vividly and with...

science review

Jan 12, 2015 Read more arrow_forward

My Favorite History Book

James Gleick is an incredibly well-read person who, in this extensive and worthwhile book “The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood”, presents the history of information and information processing....

science review

Jan 12, 2015 Read more arrow_forward

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Reviewer of Java 8 in Action

I bought the book in early access (MEAP) and decided to help as a reviewer.

software-engineering review java scala jvm object-functional

Dec 17, 2014 Read more arrow_forward

“Sophisticated” JavaScript

If there is such a thing as “sophisticated” literature, then there is now also “sophisticated” code. “If Hemingway Wrote JavaScript” contains many funny and educational examples.

software-engineering javascript review

Dec 17, 2014 Read more arrow_forward

Worth reading, but with weaknesses - Review of 'Ready Player One'

The book “Ready Player One” had almost the potential to become an absolute classic on the scale of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” The author’s brilliant idea is to...

games review games

Aug 09, 2014 Read more arrow_forward

A Good Start with Minor Weaknesses

For those who want to take a quick look at some typical thinking errors, “Die Kunst des klaren Denkens” is recommended.

science review

May 21, 2014 Read more arrow_forward

Inspiration for CUDA Experts in the Natural Sciences

The book “GPU Computing Gems (Emerald Edition)” is a collection of 50 scientific articles about experiences using GPU computing in various subject areas.

gpu-computing review c++ parallelism concurrency nvidia-cuda gpu-computing

Apr 20, 2014 Read more arrow_forward

Only recommended for die-hard CUDA fans

I had already read many articles from the series “CUDA, Supercomputing for the Masses” by Rob Farber on the Dr. Dobb’s website and was quite impressed. Back then in 2009,...

gpu-computing review c++ parallelism concurrency nvidia-cuda gpu-computing

Apr 19, 2014 Read more arrow_forward

Best CUDA Book for Advanced Users

With CUDA, it’s easy to speed up a calculation by a factor of 2-5. How to achieve higher speedups is explained in “CUDA Programming” by Shane Cook.

gpu-computing review c++ parallelism concurrency nvidia-cuda gpu-computing

Apr 16, 2014 Read more arrow_forward

Good Tips for Performance Optimization

In “The CUDA Handbook”, Nicholas Wilt proves himself to be very competent and keen to experiment with kernel optimization. Advanced readers will find this book very beneficial.

gpu-computing review c++ parallelism concurrency gpu-computing nvidia-cuda

Apr 01, 2014 Read more arrow_forward

New Edition Required: Good Book, but Unfortunately Outdated

“Using OpenMP” is a good introduction and contains a few good performance tips.

software-engineering c++ parallelism concurrency review

Mar 20, 2014 Read more arrow_forward

Currently the Best Presentation of Patterns for Shared Mutability

If you want to bring a bit of systematism to your parallel programming skills, “Structured Parallel Programming: Patterns for Efficient Computation” is the book to start with.

software-engineering parallelism concurrency c++ review opencl nvidia-cuda gpu-computing

Mar 11, 2014 Read more arrow_forward

Recommended Classic in a New Edition

I had already read the second edition back in 1992. Since then, a lot has changed for the better, both with C++ and this “classic.”

software-engineering c++ review

Feb 25, 2014 Read more arrow_forward

A Good Overview of C++ 11

In this small book, the creator of C++ provides an overview of the new features in C++ 11 and the STL.

software-engineering c++ review

Feb 11, 2014 Read more arrow_forward

Good Overview and Introduction

Anyone wanting to learn Grails cannot ignore “The Definitive Guide to Grails 2”.

software-engineering review web jvm groovy

Nov 11, 2013 Read more arrow_forward

A lot of Haskell, too little functional programming

I read “Learn You a Haskell for Great Good” to refresh my knowledge of Haskell. During my studies in the nineties, I was an enthusiastic functional programmer. I wrote my...

software-engineering functional-programming review

Oct 15, 2013 Read more arrow_forward

A Good Introduction to the Topic of Uncertainty and Risk

The book “Waltzing with Bears: Managing Risk on Software Projects” (German title: “Bärentango”) was published 10 years ago, and I have just re-read it (2013) to decide whether I should...

science review project-management

Aug 30, 2013 Read more arrow_forward

Tips of very varying quality

The book “97 Things Every Programmer Should Know” consists of 97 sections by different authors regarding frequently occurring questions in software development.

software-engineering review

Jul 30, 2013 Read more arrow_forward

Good Introduction to Non-Relational Databases

The small book “NoSQL Distilled:” provides a good overview of various NoSQL databases.

big-data review data

Jun 04, 2013 Read more arrow_forward

First Steps in API Design with C++

“API Design for C++” is an excellent introduction to the implementation of APIs with C++.

software-engineering review c++

Jul 07, 2012 Read more arrow_forward

Good Overview

“Polygon Mesh Processing” is a “research monograph” on the processing of polygon meshes.

games review graphics

Jun 29, 2012 Read more arrow_forward

A Good Guide to Creating Exciting Presentations

You can learn how to give exciting presentations in “Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences”.

work-related review

Feb 24, 2012 Read more arrow_forward

Recommended as a Reference Work

“Patterns for Parallel Programming” is an important work for ‘parallel programmers’.

software-engineering review parallelism concurrency

Feb 23, 2012 Read more arrow_forward

Essential for Performance Optimization

What distinguishes “Programming Massively Parallel Processors: A Hands-On Approach” from other books is the precise description of how the hardware works.

gpu-computing review c++ gpu-computing opencl nvidia-cuda

Feb 21, 2012 Read more arrow_forward

The ABCs of Beautiful Slides

“Slide:ology: The Art and Science of Presentation Design” is a very well-designed and easy-to-read book. It definitely lives up to its subtitle.

work-related review

Feb 08, 2012 Read more arrow_forward

Human quirks briefly presented and explained

“100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People” is a collection of rather useful information about people.

work-related review

Feb 07, 2012 Read more arrow_forward

Creating Shallow Entertainment: Less Intelligence, More Emotion

I have a mixed opinion of the book “Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery” and therefore give it only 3 stars.

work-related review

Jan 26, 2012 Read more arrow_forward

Excellent Explanation of the Crisis and Its Causes

The book “Kasino-Kapitalismus” offers a very good overview of the causes that led to the financial crisis. The connections within the financial world relevant to the crisis are precisely explained....

economics review

Jan 12, 2012 Read more arrow_forward

Good introduction to jQuery and its ecosystem

“Head First jQuery” is written in the “Head First” style and is aimed at beginners and career changers who already have a basic knowledge of HTML and CSS, as well...

software-engineering review web

Dec 06, 2011 Read more arrow_forward

A Concise Introduction and Overview of Spring ROO

The book “Getting Started with Roo” is just over 50 pages long and provides a brief and high-level introduction to using Spring ROO.

software-engineering review jvm

Dec 01, 2011 Read more arrow_forward

Very good in places, unpolished and too brief in others

Programming parallel and concurrent programs with shared memory and threads is complicated and very error-prone. Approaches such as Software Transactional Memory (STM), message-passing architectures, and actor models have been developed...

software-engineering parallelism concurrency jvm review object-functional

Dec 01, 2011 Read more arrow_forward

Maintaining an Overview and Focused Work Made Easy

In the age of multi-tasking and constant interruptions, it is difficult to find your proper work rhythm, maintain an overview, and not forget or postpone tasks. A solution is offered...

work-related review

Nov 24, 2011 Read more arrow_forward

Only for 'Thread Monkeys'

With the title “The Art of Concurrency”, high expectations are set that are not met. The subtitle “A Thread Monkey’s Guide to Writing Parallel Applications” is more fitting for the...

software-engineering review parallelism concurrency c++

Nov 15, 2011 Read more arrow_forward

This book will help you become a better programmer

“This book will help you become a better programmer” is the first sentence in the introduction of the book “Der Pragmatische Programmierer”. And I believe that it is true.

software-engineering review agile

Nov 04, 2011 Read more arrow_forward

Review of 'Complexity - A Guided Tour'

“Complexity - A Guided Tour” is a worthwhile and interesting introduction. “Complexity” is a cross-disciplinary topic that permeates many fields, such as biology (immune system, brain, evolution), economics, computer science,...

science review complex-systems

Aug 08, 2011 Read more arrow_forward

The Perfect Introduction to the Subject

The book “Real-time Rendering” is the perfect start to this field if you have prior knowledge of linear algebra and software development. It is up to date (as of April...

games review games

Apr 14, 2011 Read more arrow_forward

A Better Title Would Be 'Good and Correct German for Diploma and Doctoral Theses'

The title of the book “Technisches Schreiben: (nicht nur) für Informatiker” (Technical Writing: (not only) for Computer Scientists) is much too general. The author exclusively considers the academic side of...

work-related review

Apr 07, 2011 Read more arrow_forward

The best introduction to CUDA

“Cuda by Example” is the perfect start to CUDA for beginners. However, even some advanced users and professionals might enjoy the clear explanations and examples.

gpu-computing parallelism review gpu-computing

Mar 13, 2011 Read more arrow_forward

Excellent Book for Beginners and Advanced Readers

“Ray Tracing from the Ground Up” is an excellent book for beginners and advanced readers. You can tell that the author has spent many years working on the subject and...

software-engineering review graphics c++

Jan 10, 2011 Read more arrow_forward

Book Reviews