David Heinemeier Hansson has written an inspiring and eye-opening book entitled Getting Real: The Smarter, Faster, Easier Way to Build a Successful Web Application. The book is focused on how to successfully create a web application while saving yourself time, money, and resources.
The book starts out by discussing the importance of code and how to use it correctly to create powerful applications. Heinemeier Hansson goes on to explain the importance of simplifying and making sure the user experience is taken into consideration. He emphasizes that if the user cannot utilize and comprehend the application, it is not worth building.
Heinemeier Hansson emphasizes the need for focus and clarity in the development process. He believes that the most successful applications are those that are tailored to the user's needs. He further explains that the focus should be on the core of the product or service rather than the bells and whistles. This is important for both productivity and for making sure the user has the best experience possible.
In addition to code and user experience, Heinemeier Hansson focuses on the development process and how to make the most of it. He explains the importance of having a focused team that is committed to the project. His concept of a "flexible team" is an interesting one where the team is allowed to move in different directions while still achieving their ultimate goal.
The second half of the book looks at the deployment process and how to best optimize it. He explains the need for setting up a proper test-driven development process in which you can make sure the code is good before it is put into production. He also looks at a specific development methodology in rapid-prototyping and extreme programming.
The last chapter of the book is centered around scaling. Heinemeier Hansson believes that when it comes to scaling, the best thing to do is to keep the application simple and do not try to over-architect the system. He believes the only way to truly scale is to think about the architecture first, design for scalability and then scale early and often.
Overall, Getting Real is an entertaining and informative read. David Heinemeier Hansson's experiences have enabled him to create a roadmap to success, no matter which stage of development your web application is in. It is an invaluable resource that should be recommended to any web developers, experienced or not.
