Thursday, March 29, 2012

Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction

Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction Review



Widely considered one of the best practical guides to programming, Steve McConnell’s original CODE COMPLETE has been helping developers write better software for more than a decade. Now this classic book has been fully updated and revised with leading-edge practices—and hundreds of new code samples—illustrating the art and science of software construction. Capturing the body of knowledge available from research, academia, and everyday commercial practice, McConnell synthesizes the most effective techniques and must-know principles into clear, pragmatic guidance. No matter what your experience level, development environment, or project size, this book will inform and stimulate your thinking—and help you build the highest quality code.

Discover the timeless techniques and strategies that help you:

  • Design for minimum complexity and maximum creativity
  • Reap the benefits of collaborative development
  • Apply defensive programming techniques to reduce and flush out errors
  • Exploit opportunities to refactor—or evolve—code, and do it safely
  • Use construction practices that are right-weight for your project
  • Debug problems quickly and effectively
  • Resolve critical construction issues early and correctly
  • Build quality into the beginning, middle, and end of your project


Saturday, March 24, 2012

Little Construction Site Sticker Activity Book (Dover Little Activity Books)

Little Construction Site Sticker Activity Book (Dover Little Activity Books) Review



Fill a busy work area with sticker images of barricades, danger signs, figures of workers driving dump trucks and cement mixers, and much more. 24 stickers.


Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Building a House (Mulberry Books)

Building a House (Mulberry Books) Review



A machine digs a big hole. A cement mixer pours cement. Carpenters put up walls. Bricklayers, electricians, plumbers, and painters do their part. Through brilliantly simple words and pictures we follow each step, and before our eyes a house is built.


Sunday, March 18, 2012

How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Construction Company - With Companion CD-ROM

How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Construction Company - With Companion CD-ROM Review



Starting a construction company, even a small one, can be a very profitable venture. In good times and bad construction is an industry that will always be in demand, and construction is not an industry where technology will replace or undermine it. The construction field is growing rapidly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction firms are expected to be one of the fastest growing business segments in the U.S. economy. There has never been a better time to start a construction company and get ahead of the competition. This new book is a comprehensive, detailed study of the practical side of starting and operating a construction firm. It will take you step-by-step through every aspect and prepare you with everything you need including sample business forms, leases, contracts; worksheets and checklists for planning, starting, and running day-to-day operations. You will get dozens of other valuable, timesaving tools of the trade that every entrepreneur should have. While providing detailed instruction and examples, the author help you find a location and business name that will bring success, take you through the process of drawing up a winning business plan (The Companion CD-ROM has the actual business plan you can use in MS Word TM), and teach you how to start and manage your construction company. You will find guidance on obtaining licenses and permits, drawing up contracts, hiring subcontractors, meeting governmental regulations, attracting new clients and referrals, applying for financing, tracking utilities, employing basic cost control systems, dealing with pricing issues, and staying ahead of the competition. You will avoid trial by error when setting up equipment layouts, meeting legal and IRS requirements, and tapping into the best sales and marketing techniques and pricing formulas. This book will even help you set up computer systems to save time and money, teach you how to hire and keep a qualified professional staff, use the best computer software, network with publishers and associations, do your own sales planning, customer service, keep your own books, compile monthly profit and loss statements, and prepare taxes. You will become adept at media planning, pricing, and public relations. You will be able to manage and train employees, motivate workers, generate high profile public relations and publicity, and learn low cost marketing ideas and low cost ways to satisfy customers and build sales. You will learn how to keep bringing customers back and build referrals the secret of continued success as well as getting thousands of great tips and useful guidelines. The manual delivers literally hundreds of innovative demonstrated ways to operate and streamline your business. Learn new ways to make your operation run smoother and increase performance, shut down waste, reduce costs, and increase profits. The secret of continued success as well as getting thousands of great tips and useful ideas. In addition, you will appreciate the valuable CD-ROM resource in your daily activities as a source of ready-to-use forms, templates, worksheets, business plan, surveys, letters, web site resources, everything you will need to get up and running. We also went the extra mile and spent an unprecedented amount of time researching, interviewing, e-mailing, and communicating with hundreds of today's most successful construction company executives. Aside from learning the basics you will be privy to their secrets and proven successful ideas. Instruction is great, but advice from experts is even better, and the construction experts chronicled in this book are earning a great deal of money for their expertise.


Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The Gypsum Construction Handbook (RSMeans)

The Gypsum Construction Handbook (RSMeans) Review



One of the construction industry's longest-running, most relied-on references, The Gypsum Construction Handbook was first published by the U.S. Gypsum Company in 1904. For more than a century and through several editions, the book has become a trusted standard. The Handbook covers both new construction and repair and remodeling and includes: framing drywall and veneer plaster joint treatment and plaster finishing interior cement board ceilings conventional plaster New in this edition are chapters on sustainable construction methods and products, building movements, fire resistance, heat transfer, sound transmission, and vapor/moisture control. System descriptions - together with full data on prodcuts, accessories, tools, equipment and applications - help plan and estimate projects and ensure compliance with performance criteria. Cost - and time saving - techniques keep the work on budget.


Saturday, March 10, 2012

Roofing Construction & Estimating

Roofing Construction & Estimating Review



Roofing Construction & Estimating Feature

  • Product Details: Paperback: 448 pages
  • Publisher: Craftsman Book Co (April 9, 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1572180072, ISBN-13: 978-1572180079
  • Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 1 inches, Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
Installation, repair and estimating for nearly every type of roof covering available today in residential and commercial structures: asphalt shingles, roll roofing, wood shingles and shakes, clay tile, slate, metal, built-up, and elastomeric.

Covers sheathing and underlayment techniques, as well as secrets for installing leakproof valleys. Many estimating tips help you minimize waste, as well as insure a profit on every job. Troubleshooting techniques help you identify the true source of most leaks.

Over 300 large, clear illustrations help you find the answer to just about all your roofing questions.


Friday, March 9, 2012

Carpentry and Building Construction

Carpentry and Building Construction Review



"Carpentry and Building Construction" is widely used for vocational building construction programs in secondary and post-secondary schools. The fifth edition has been completely updated and expanded, so you can be sure your teaching is technically correct and state of the art. This comprehensive text covers everything from print reading to painting.


Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Delivery, Second Edition

Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Delivery, Second Edition Review



Reflecting the latest developments in the green building movement, and updated to include coverage of LEED 2009,Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Delivery, Second Edition guides construction and design professionals through the process of developing commercial and institutional high-performance green buildings in today's marketplace.

In this revised edition, Charles Kibert delivers a detailed, and passionate, overview of the entire process of green building, covering the theory, history, state of the industry, and best practices in green building. Kibert uses not only the dominant LEED assessment system, but includes such newer ones as Green Globes and several noteworthy building assessment systems from other countries. Sections introduce the background of the green building movement and walk you through such aspects as the background of high-performance green building design, green-building assessment, the green building process, and ecological design.

Broad enough to cover the needs of faculty and students in architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, interior design, and construction management, yet focused enough to serve as a reference for building owners and buyers of construction services, Sustainable Construction is a comprehensive look at an emerging process that is environmentally sounds while making good economic sense.

Content from this book is available as two online continuing professional education courses at http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-320255.html#life_cycle_assessment and http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-320255.html#green_building.  WileyCPE courses are available on demand, 24 hours a day, and are approved by the American Institute of Architects.


Friday, March 2, 2012

The Construction of Social Reality

The Construction of Social Reality Review



In The Construction of Social Reality, John Searle argues that there are two kinds of facts--some that are independent of human observers, and some that require human agreement.