Smart & Gets Things Done

Joel is a great writer, which makes the read a very enjoyable experience. With that said, it doesn't really contain anything new - at least not by 2020 standards. Given that it's 13 years old by now, it must have felt revolutionary when it was released. However, it should be read with its age in mind.

A lot has happened since, and some of the suggestions feel dated. This fantastic tweet by Alyss Noland sums up a lot of my own thoughts on recruiting in 2020. The same could be applied to formal education as well.

Enjoyably written, and delightfully short and to the point. I do feel though that it goes over a lot of the same ground as 'Peopleware', only in less detail. What it does have going for it is a discussion of hiring practices from the point of view of managers and interviewers. A very valuable insight indeed, especially for those of us who haven't gone for many interviews and even the very idea of which makes us nervous. That said, Joel doesn't do anything to relieve my fears, describing a process I don't feel confident in doing well in, and constantly talking about only wanting the best of the best. But through all that, there are great tips for CVs and interviews that should be a genuine help to the interviewee. I'd recommend to software developers curious about the interview process.