Preventative Programming Techniques: Avoid and Correct Common Mistakes
Brian M. Hawkins · 2003
From the Publisher: Preventative Programming Techniques provides programmers with a clear and intelligent approach to detecting, preventing, and correcting the most common mistakes. It includes practical ways to reduce problems that occur every day, and provides methods for correcting problems that already exist. Using a medical metaphor, each of the common problems is presented as an illness. Each illness is then presented in a structured approach that includes a basic description, common symptoms, prevention methods, cures, and related illnesses to look for.The majority of the principles and practices espoused are language independent and focus on instructing programmers how to detect and avoid problems. It also includes guidelines on determining when and how to refactor or rewrite code. Some of the major and minor illnesses found throughout programming, include premature optimization, CAP (cut and paste) epidemic, NIH (not invented here) syndrome, complexification, oversimplification, docuphobia, and more. If you're a programmer, you've made these mistakes or you've had to deal with code that has them in it.To learn how to prevent and fix these problems, check out all of the illnessesyou're sure to find insightful tips for your own projects. Novice programmers will benefit greatly from reading through each category of illness from start to finish, and experienced programmers will benefit from the insightful tips and anecdotes. Key Features: * Provides insightful guidelines for avoiding common programming mistakes and writing cleaner, more efficient code * Emphasizes early detection and resolution before the costs of problems explode * Covers all problems from a non-language specific approach, providing examples in C++ and Java * Teaches practical guidelines for detecting what may seem like obvious mistakes that often go undetected until they cause serious problems * Includes a variety of tips and anecdotes that benefit all levels of programmers On the CD! * A collection of open source and demonstration software, including Cmake, CppUnit, Doc-o-Matic, Doxygen, Milestones, Perforce, Ruby, Visual Assist, and Win CVS * Full source code for many of the examples throughout the book in both C++ and Java System Requirements The source code is intended to be standard C++ and Java code. It has been tested using Microsoft Visual Studio .NET compiler for the C++ source code and the Sun JDK 1.4 compiler for the Java code.The software utilities provided require Windows 98, 2000, NT or XP professional. Although most of the software demos work with Windows 98, to use the Microsoft Visual C++ .NET project file you will need Microsoft Visual C++ .NET which requires NT, 2000, or XP. Some programs may have additional requirements, so please refer to specific programs for their information.