This part of our site contains software construction resources. Software construction is the activity most directly responsible for creating computer software. It includes resolving low-level design issues while employing technologies and tools to implement data structures, algorithms, interfaces, and other design elements. Also includes coding, debugging, testing, performance optimization, integration, and construction planning.

Resources for Software Construction at the Project Level

• Steve McConnell's Code Complete, 2nd Ed., website
  • Reasons to Refactor
  • Summary of Refactorings
  • List of Construction Checklists
• The SEL's Recommended Approach to Software Development contains A Unit Design Inspection Checklist template on p. 94 and a Detailed Design Document template on p. 100

CxOne Software Construction Resources

• CxOne Construction Resources, including checklists, templates, patterns, and other best practice support
• General Coding Standard
• General Coding Checklist
• Collaborative Construction
• Daily Build and Smoke Test
• Modules, Classes, Files, etc. Checklist
• Object Oriented Programming Checklist
• CxOne Source Code Templates
  • C/C++ Source and Header
  • Java
  • Python
  • Visual Basic
  • XML

Software Construction Checklists at the Code Complete, 2nd Edition Website

• Overall List of Construction Checklists 
• Class Quality checklist
• Code Tuning Strategies checklist
• Code Tuning Techniques checklist
• Commenting checklist
• Conditionals checklist
• Configuration Management checklist
• Construction Decisions checklist
• Control Issues, General checklist
• Control Structures, Unusual checklist
• Data Considerations, General checklist
• Data Types, Unusual checklist
• Data, Fundamental checklist
• Debugging Reminders checklist
• Defensive Programming checklist
• Design in Construction checklist
• Integration checklist
• Layout checklist
• Loops checklist
• Pair Programming checklist
• Pseudocode checklist
• Refactoring Safely checklist
• Routines, High Quality checklist
• Self-Documenting Code checklist
• Straight-Line Code checklist
• Table-Driven Methods checklist
• Test Cases checklist
• Variables, Naming checklist

Software Construction Checklists from the Software Project Survival Guide website

• Overall list of software construction checklists
• Construction "survival check"
• Constructing a Routine checklist
• High-Quality Routines checklist
• High-Quality Modules checklist
• Data Creation checklist
• Naming Data checklist
• General Considerations in Using Data checklist
• Fundamental Data checklist
• Organizing Straight-Line Code checklist
• Conditionals checklist
• Loops checklist
• Unusual Control Structures checklist
• Control-Structure Issue checklist
• Layout checklist
• Self-Documenting Code checklist
• Good Commenting Technique checklist
• Configuration Management checklist
• Debugging checklist
• Incremental Integration Strategy checklist
• Code Changes checklist

White Papers and Articles on Software Construction

• Missing in Action: Information Hiding IEEE Software
• Keep It Simple IEEE Software
• Daily Build and Smoke Test IEEE Software
• Why You Should Use Routines, Routinely  IEEE Software
• Dealing with Problem Programmers  IEEE Software
• Achieving Leaner Software IEEE Software
• The Programmer Writing IEEE Software
• Keep It Simple IEEE Software
• Who Cares About Software Construction? IEEE Software

Interesting Links about Software Construction

• Jolt Awards for languages, libraries, and utilities

Training in Software Construction

• Construx's Professional Development Plan for developers
• Code Complete Essentials seminar
• Configuration Management Essentials seminar
• Design Patterns in Depth seminar
• Software Construction Boot Camp seminar
• More Software Construction Seminars >>