The "I Can't Believe This Has No Sugar" Cookbook Review

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(More customer reviews)I was very interested in this book due to my recent diagnosis of pre-diabetes. I've been advised to steer clear of simple sugars, esp. white sugar, white flour, rice and potatoes. I thought this book would be a great addition to my cookbook library, but alas it was not. Unfortunately the authors simply omit white sugar from the recipes, but still include huge amounts of simple sugars through white flour and fruit juice concentrates. If you are specifically allergic to white sugar, then this book might be for you. If, however, you're a diabetic trying to cut out simple sugars I'd pass on this book.

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It's hard to believe that these tempting and delicious baked favorites contain no sugar, honey, or artificial sweetners:Chocolate-Coconut CakeSpelt Whole-Grain Yeast BreadPeach PieSugar-free, Dairy-free FudgeBlueberry CrispSummer Afternoon MaltWhole-Wheat Raisin CookiesGraham-Cracker Cookie CutoutsApple-Nut Cinnamon RollsRaspberry PopsiclesThe secret is fruit, pure and naural, along with fruit juice concentrates, date sugar, and other healthful alternatives to sugar.All recipes are dairy-free and most are cholesterol-free and can be adapted for common food allergies.Deborah Buhr's family-tested recipes are irresistibly good--perfect for children, diabetics, calorie counters, the food allergic, and anyone with a "healthy" sweet tooth.

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Programming: Principles and Practice Using C++ Review

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(More customer reviews)For some reasons, I had expected a book on reflections on Stroustrup's philosophy of C++ programming aimed at experienced practitioners. I was quite surprised by the heft of the book, but much more so by the content. It's a book for non-programmers or beginners to teach them how to program with C++ as the vehicle and it's structured for use as a textbook for a first year college course.
Physically, the book is massive, weighing in at over 1200 pages. It is printed on good quality semi-glossy paper and the extensive use of color will remind some of the Deitel & Deitel series, at least superficially.
The prospective student will probably benefit from a comparison of this book to the existing leading tutorial books. The leaders, by popularity or quality, are (in no specific order): Lippman, Lajoie, & Moo's C++ Primer (4th Edition), Eckel's Thinking in C++: Introduction to Standard C++, Volume One (2nd Edition) (Vol 1) and Thinking in C++, Volume 2: Practical Programming, Dietel & Deitel's C++ How to Program (6th Edition), Koenig & Moo's Accelerated C++: Practical Programming by Example (C++ In-Depth Series), Lippman's Essential C++ (C++ In-Depth Series), and Prata's C++ Primer Plus (5th Edition). These all share the common purpose of teaching the C++ language, so an effort is made to cover the features and concepts, with examples that were constructed to illustrate them. This is NOT Stroustrup's approach.
Stroustrup isn't trying to teach the C++ language. He's teaching how to program. C++ is the tool he uses to do so. This isn't a subtle difference. It's the difference between teaching you about a wrench and making up fake car parts to fix with the wrench and teaching you auto repair and giving you a wrench to do so. You still learn the tool as you go along, but it's a side effect.
The overall direction of the book is to teach students how to program solutions to real problems in a way that one would in the real world. Things that other books consider "extraneous to illustrating the principle" aren't swept under the carpet. Inputs are validated. Code is tested. Errors are detected. Exceptions are thrown and caught. They're not incidental details, they're part of the solution, and that's how Stroustrup presents them. Yet, these "details" don't detract from the readability or understandability of the code. In fact, they preempt the stream of "but what about..." questions that students will inevitable have when presented incomplete toy code.
Chapters 6 and 7 are gems. They develop an expression evaluator, walking the student through a tokenizer, parser, and interpreter without bogging the student down with deep theory that will be learned in later courses and is unnecessary to get started (though many will be inspired to go read up on it). Besides showing some interesting and useful techniques, understanding an expression evaluator goes a long way toward understanding programming languages in general.
The discussion on containers and iterators explains how one would go about designing them, not just using them. Once the development of a vector-like container is described, the other standard containers are presented for the student to use. No time is wasted trying to teach data structures, for which other classes and books already exist. The same applies to sorts and other basic algorithms. The standard ones are presented for immediate use by the student.
There are chapters on basic I/O, GUI and graphics (using FLTK), data formatting, and numerical programming (this is my least favorite). There is also some cursory coverage of upcoming C++ features as they are found in boost, such as regular expressions. Because this book deliberately targets beginners, you won't find advanced topics like template metaprogramming. There are entire books (three of them!) dedicated to that.
Finally, there is some brief discussion of the history of C++, on its own and in the context of the evolution of programming languages in general. I would have enjoyed more of this.
If I were to teach a course, this book would be my first choice. A disciplined self-learner would also be well served by this book.
However, it does not try to target those who already know how to program and wish to migrate to C++, though they would doubtless find this book interesting and well written. For them, I would recommend "Accelerated C++" or "Essential C++" to bring them up to speed quickly or ""C++ Primer" to study the language more in depth. For those coming from a language that is conceptually different from C++, the two "Thinking in C++" volumes do a good job of aiding in the paradigm shift. I am deliberately omitting non-tutorial books like the "Effective C++" and "Exceptional C++" series, though they are certainly essential.
Everyone -- beginner and migrating expert -- should avoid C++ How to Program (6th Edition). Notwithstanding the pretty presentation, this book teaches abysmal programming practices, such as blatant and amateurish violations of the Liskov Substitutability Principle.
Naturally, every C++ programmer should own The C++ Programming Language: Special Edition (3rd Edition) and C++ in a Nutshell is a marvelous one-stop reference.
As a side note, there is a long running debate over which language is most suitable for teaching an introduction to programming. C++ is usually one of the first to be eliminated. This book puts C++ back in the running and and shows that it's more about the teacher than it is about the language.

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An Introduction to Programming by the Inventor of C++Preparation for Programming in the Real WorldThe book assumes that you aim eventually to write non-trivial programs, whether for work in software development or in some other technical field. Focus on Fundamental Concepts and TechniquesThe book explains fundamental concepts and techniques in greater depth than traditional introductions. This approach will give you a solid foundation for writing useful, correct, maintainable, and efficient code.Programming with Today’s C++The book is an introduction to programming in general, including object-oriented programming and generic programming. It is also a solid introduction to the C++ programming language, one of the most widely used languages for real-world software. The book presents modern C++ programming techniques from the start, introducing the C++ standard library to simplify programming tasks.For Beginners–And Anyone Who Wants to Learn Something NewThe book is primarily designed for people who have never programmed before, and it has been tested with more than 1,000 first-year university students. However, practitioners and advanced students will gain new insight and guidance by seeing how a recognized master approaches the elements of his art.Provides a Broad ViewThe first half of the book covers a wide range of essential concepts, design and programming techniques, language features, and libraries. Those will enable you to write programs involving input, output, computation, and simple graphics. The second half explores more specialized topics, such as text processing and testing, and provides abundant reference material. Source code and support supplements are available from the author’s website.

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Testing for Language Teachers (Cambridge Language Teaching Library) Review

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(More customer reviews)It seems that a lot of books in the market on testing deal with the theoretical background of designing large scale tests on the institutional level. Those sorts of books are not so useful for the practicing teacher who is looking for a little guidance on improving their test writing skills for daily classes. This book is written with that teacher in mind. It doesn't overload the reader with loads of statistics, but if you are interested in the statistical basis of the ideas presented in this book, there is a section on statistics in the appendix.
Basically, this book is divided into three sections. The first section covers the different types of test a teacher might want to give and the differences between those types. The second part delves into the theory of validity and realiability, but doesn't overwhelm the reader with loads of numbers and figures. The third part goes into how to test different skills. The attitude the author takes toward testing is that a test should focus on one of the four basic skills: speaking, reading, writing, or listening. Grammar and vocabulary, he claims, are not ends in themselves, but merely components of the four basic skills, so they don't need to be given much emphasis in testing. I thought that was an interesting idea.
If you're a teacher looking for a book to help you with your test writing skills, I can recommend this one.

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This is a second edition of this classic text on language testing. Over the years the first edition has established itself as a core text on many ESL teacher training programs. There is no other text that is as comprehensive and accessible as Testing for Language Teachers. All of the chapters for this second edition have been revised and updated. It also has new chapters on tests for young learners and testing overall ability, as well as new and accessible appendices on statistical analysis and item banking. No other book on language testing covers the areas that all language teachers need to know when testing their students' language skills.

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Probability Angels Review

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(More customer reviews)I feel fortunate that I am in a position to occasionally read self-published books. Not all of them are worth taking the time to write about; however, this one certainly is. Though it has its weaknesses, Probability Angels has enough going for it to make it worth reading.
The strongest part of the book is the first half, when the reader gets a chance to explore this clever world and learn about its people. Or, rather, its "probability angels"--people who have died after making certain choices, which leave them spirits roaming the earth, "pushing" human beings towards different paths, both good and bad. But in doing so these "angels" experience pain and huge transfers of energy.
It is a real pleasure to learn about the powers of this alternate world and, in particular, to meet its characters. Matthew, the newbie, is in some sense the eyes through which we see this world. Yet it's Epp, the ancient one, and Kyo, the strange one, who are ultimately much more interesting as we slowly learn their history. They are also the driving forces that move the plot forward.
There were a few small problems with the book from the beginning, however. Mainly, a tendency to disguise exposition as dialogue. Still, as I moved through the first half of the book, I thought it might be a real surprise, a genuine triumph. Unfortunately, when the climax of the plot starts to develop in the second half, it doesn't quite live up to the nice groundwork that's been laid.
The second half squanders the ambiguity of the first half by laying out a basic good vs. evil battle between various kinds of spirits. And a lot of the questions that the reader expects to be answered in these pages are left unknowns. In some cases, the characters themselves ask the same questions the reader has and are greeted with another character's "I don't know." I guess it's okay that things are unknown at certain stages for the characters, but the reader--at least this reader--wants a little more fulfillment.
Still, in the end, I have to commend Mr. Devon for coming up with a very clever premise and creating a very interesting world. If I hoped he did a little more with the plot to exploit his premise; well, others may see it differently. But that doesn't change the fact that Probability Angels is a good read.

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Matthew Huntington's problems seem to keep growing. Not only is he seeing things in garbage cans but his mentor doesn't think he's working up to his full potential, his best friend can't offer any solace but drunken confusion and his wife is dying in Central Park. Of course, the fact that Matthew himself died over two decades ago isn't helping things.

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Introduction to Software Testing Review

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(More customer reviews)Unit tests are all the rage. Maybe they are being touted out of proportion to their place in the hierarchy of testing methods, maybe not. I don't know enough to say either way, and was hoping this book would clarify that question. Instead I found that "unit test" was not even in the index. So, if I understand the current gestalt correctly, a neophyte depending on this book alone will come away unable to converse with the developers in many real-world shops. This is a tragic example of academic insularity blunting the authors' effectiveness in preparing their charges for the world beyond the classroom.

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Extensively class tested, this text takes an innovative approach to explaining the process of software testing: it defines testing as the process of applying a few well-defined, general-purpose test criteria to a structure or model of the software. The structure of the text directly reflects the pedagogical approach and incorporates the latest innovations in testing, including techniques to test modern types of software such as OO, web applications, and embedded software.

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Implementing Automated Software Testing: How to Save Time and Lower Costs While Raising Quality Review

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(More customer reviews)Although this book is not oriented towards agile software development, it's still a solid resource for anyone new to test automation. It's pragmatic, practical, clearly written, easy to understand. I especially like the six "Keys" for automation payoff. The authors explain the reasons for automating - it might seem obvious to some but many newbies don't see all the potential benefits. The book also blows through automation myths. There's a lot of emphasis on ROI, which is often overlooked.
Where the advice I give on automation differs from this book is making it a whole team effort, rather than the test team only, but that's easier to do in an agile setting. Also, the authors do talk about things like interviewing stakeholders, and getting people with the right skills, these are all so important.
I wish the book had a section on continuous integration and automated build process. I think in another few years nobody will question the need for this, any more than people currently question the need for automated source code management. Whereas a few years ago nobody in my conference tutorials was doing CI, nowadays about a third of the people are. I think it's so critical to have a way to continually run all the automated regression tests every time new code is checked in. The book makes a passing reference to this, and it does mention test automation at different levels starting at the unit level, but it doesn't explain why you need a build process and how to set one up.
Nevertheless, it's a great resource, and will give readers a good grip on the fundamentals of test automation. I get so frustrated when people think it's impossible to automate, or that they have to hire some expensive consultant to get it done. This book will enable teams to be much more successful. It is a good overview of all the different areas where automation can help a team tremendously.
Just be sure to also buy a book that tells you how to set up continuous integration and automated builds, such as _Pragmatic Project Automation_ by Mike Clark, or _Continuous Integration_ by Paul Duvall, Andy Glover and Steve Matyas. Or _Ship It_ by Jared Richardson and William Gwaltney.

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“This book fills a huge gap in our knowledge of software testing. It does an excellent job describing how test automation differs from other test activities, and clearly lays out what kind of skills and knowledge are needed to automate tests. The book is essential reading for students of testing and a bible for practitioners.”—Jeff Offutt, Professor of Software Engineering, George Mason University“This new book naturally expands upon its predecessor, Automated Software Testing, and is the perfect reference for software practitioners applying automated software testing to their development efforts. Mandatory reading for software testing professionals!”—Jeff Rashka, PMP, Coauthor of Automated Software Testing and Quality Web SystemsTesting accounts for an increasingly large percentage of the time and cost of new software development. Using automated software testing (AST), developers and software testers can optimize the software testing lifecycle and thus reduce cost. As technologies and development grow increasingly complex, AST becomes even more indispensable. This book builds on some of the proven practices and the automated testing lifecycle methodology (ATLM) described in Automated Software Testing and provides a renewed practical, start-to-finish guide to implementing AST successfully.In Implementing Automated Software Testing, three leading experts explain AST in detail, systematically reviewing its components, capabilities, and limitations. Drawing on their experience deploying AST in both defense and commercial industry, they walk you through the entire implementation process—identifying best practices, crucial success factors, and key pitfalls along with solutions for avoiding them. You will learn how to:
Make a realistic business case for AST, and use it to drive your initiative
Clarify your testing requirements and develop an automation strategy that reflects them
Build efficient test environments and choose the right automation tools and techniques for your environment
Use proven metrics to continuously track your progress and adjust accordingly
Whether you’re a test professional, QA specialist, project manager, or developer, this book can help you bring unprecedented efficiency to testing—and then use AST to improve your entire development lifecycle.

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The Software Test Engineer's Handbook: A Study Guide for the ISTQB Test Analyst and Technical Analyst Advanced Level Certificates (Rockynook Computing) Review

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(More customer reviews)The first edition of this volume has `ISTQB' on the front cover, but apparently is not sanctioned by the International Software Testing Qualification Board. Don't let that put you off, as the volume is closely aligned to the exam syllabus for two of the three advanced level testing qualifications administered by this board. Books tightly aligned to a syllabus can lose readability, but that has not happened here. However, it is fair to say that this is only for testers or those with a serious interest in testing, and being an advanced book, the audience may be a little limited.
There is a wealth of experience combined in the pages, and a rich vein of real-life stories ("war stories"). That is what makes this very readable. The chapters are identified with one of the two authors (apart from chapter 1 - both), so it is clear immediately who the `I' is in a particular chapter. There is also a long-running testing project which works well, with the requirements being clarified as the book progresses - just as happens in real life. With regard to the `Marathon' testing project, I am not too sure what the authors know about marathons. Bear this in mind as you read; an observation, not necessarily a criticism.
The authors' style is chatty and engaging, and both are well aware of the nuances of the syllabus, being members of the international core team that produced it. This volume brings life to the document that covers the advanced level qualification for Test Manager (not covered in this book), Test Analyst and Technical test Analyst (both of which are covered). Syllabus coverage may be patchy in parts (orthogonal arrays, the Classification Tree Method, Risk Based Testing, the defect process and people issues could be covered in more detail). However, there is a small glossary, and details of books / web-sites to obtain more information on these and other topics
This is a good buy, and I would recommend it, not just for a person studying for the examination, but as a sound second-level testing book. It is NOT specialised, but does have good coverage of some of the less well defined areas, especially non-functional testing (performance, usability, security - although the jury is out as to whether `security' is functional or non-functional).
If intending to sit one of the two exams for which it is intended, note that there are no sample exam-style questions, but sample exercises. There are not generally any answers to these - at this level of testing maybe there are no longer any answers, but just opinions. That is hard when contemplating a multiple-choice exam. For those intending to take either exam, buy the book. But do not use it as your sole source of information as you study, and it will probably need more than this book alone for self-study.
Peter Morgan (morganp@supanet.com)

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There are a lot of books around covering functional testing techniques, but relatively few cover both functional and technical testing. This book will fill that gap. Authors Graham Bath and Judy McKay are core members of the ISTQB Working Party that created the new advanced level syllabus, which will be rolled out worldwide this year.

This book brings both functional and technical aspects of testing into a coherent whole, which will benefit not only test analyst/engineers but also test managers. Based on the "Certified Tester" Advanced-Level syllabus issued by the ISTQB in 2007, the book covers everything you will need to know to successfully sit the examinations for Test Analyst and Technical Test Analyst.

For those planning to take one or both of these exams, the book provides a solid base for preparation and clearly indicates which sections apply to which specific examination.

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