Press Release
January 10, 2007
Windows Developer Power Tools: Turbocharge Windows Development With 170+ Free Tools
Sebastopol, CA--Early power tools were built with steel casings, copper
windings, and plenty of ball bearings, with an end result so solid that
the tools were almost too heavy to lift. In spite of the tools'
unwieldiness, tradesmen were quick to implement them, recognizing from the
start that the boost in productivity these tools delivered would ensure a
competitive edge in the marketplace. Although the power tools used in
Windows software development are typically not unwieldy, they have
something else in common with those first handheld tools: they've been
snapped up eagerly by users who've seen in them the same promise of
increased productivity, efficiency, and competitive edge.
"The software industry is a very competitive place, so it's critical for
developers to find some edge over competition," says Jim Holmes, coauthor
with James Avery of the newly released Windows Developer Power Tools
(O'Reilly, US $59.99). The book is an encyclopedic guide to more than 170
free and open source programming tools, components, and frameworks
contributed by 60 top Windows developers. It follows a unique
task-oriented organization, presenting topics in the same order in which
developers working on a project are likely to encounter them. More than
simply listing the tools, Windows Developer Power Tools helps developers
choose the right ones for solving both common and uncommon problems they
face each day.
"This book helps folks learn where they can speed up their development,
solve tough problems, and boost the quality of their code," Holmes
continues. "There is a wealth of tools that can save them a lot of effort,
particularly in areas they might not have thought about before."
Among the free and open source tools, utilities, and widgets available
today, developers can find everything from complete frameworks that
provide applications straight out of the box to tiny gadgets that do only
small tasks, but do them very well. Avery and Holmes list other reasons
why free and open source tools are so appealing: the large support
networks existing for many of them; the creative passion behind the tools
that isn't typically found in commercial software; no required number of
licenses to purchase; and finally, the just-plain-coolness of the tools.
"You can delve into the source code and see how industry leaders like
Charlie Poole, Ward Cunningham, or Ron Jeffries write their code," note
Holmes and Avery. "That's an amazing resource to help you expand your
knowledge and improve your own code."
The book was written primarily for .NET developers, but anyone who writes
software for the Windows platform--Java, Ruby, PHP, and other
developers--will find useful tools to help them in the tasks they do every
day. The book includes forewords by Mike Gunderloy (Larkware) and Scott
Hanselman (http://www.hanselman.com/tools), operators of the two most
popular tools sites for Microsoft developers.
James Avery has been programming with Microsoft technologies for the last
seven years and working with .NET since the second beta release. He is
currently working as a consultant in the Cincinnati area building
enterprise-level .NET applications. Avery has worked on a number of books,
most recently ASP.NET Setup and Configuration Pocket Reference for
Microsoft Press. He's also written articles for MSDN magazine, ASPToday,
and is a frequent blogger. Avery has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP,
ASPInsider, and is an MCSD.NET.
Jim Holmes, a Microsoft MVP, has nearly 25 years experience in the IT
industry, including network management, systems analysis, and software
development in Perl, Java, C++, and .NET. He's the founder of the Dayton
.NET Developers Group and co-founder of the Dayton-Cincinnati Code Camp.
He's a frequent blogger and writes a weekly column for
VisualStudioHacks.com.
Background and Market Information:
http://del.icio.us/oreillymedia/powertools
Additional Resources:
Windows Developer Power Tools
James Avery and Jim Holmes
ISBN: 0-596-52754-3, 1263 pages, $59.99 US, $77.99 CA
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938; 1-707-827-7000
About O'Reilly
O'Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O'Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying "faint signals" from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.
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