Book: Getting Real by 37signals
Filed in: Life Log, Reviews, Web Development — April 22nd, 2007
I bought a printed-on-demand book “Getting Real” by 37signals from Lulu.com. Getting Real is an excellent book that helps you discovering the smarter, faster, easier way to build a successful web application.
Although the book is free to read online (PDF version, $19), but I cannot make myself reading a 200 pages book from monitor screen. So, I bought the paperback, which is printed on demand at Lulu.com. Total cost: $39.75 USD (included shipping)
I paid the book using PayPal. It took around 2 weeks to receive the Lulu parcel. It was well packaged. The book is lighter than I expected and printed using yellowish papers (recycled paper?).
Image: Getting Real: The Book by 37signals
Image: Getting Real: The Book by 37signals (inside)
I briefly scanned through the book and it had brightened my mind! In short, dump Systems Development Life Cycle if you are developing a web application. It is Web 2.0 age, and Getting Real shows you the right way to build a successful web application.
Getting Real is not a programming book, no code example. It is the process 37signals used to launch five successful web applications (Basecamp, Campfire, Backpack, Writeboard, Ta-da List), Ruby on Rails, in just two years with only 7 people.
If you are (or plan to) working on a web app, you should get a copy of Getting Real.
