Review: Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability

Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability by Steve Krug

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A concise and sharp book on Web usability. Relevant examples and illustrations, great design of the book and a nice dose of wit - sure ingredients for an enjoyable reading. It is well written and easily read - the reader does not have to have any technical competence to grasp the meaning.

Recommended to anyone having to do with Web sites design and development - either developers, designers or managers

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3 months in Tallinn

Today, exactly three months ago, me and my wife moved to Tallinn, Estonia. After five years abroad I am back to Estonia. Tallinn has been somewhat alien city for me before, but I start liking it more now. I have discovered some great sides of it that I did not know about before - along with some other parts that I appreciated in the past and which I love even more now (read: Old Town, seaside, parks).

Somewhat surprisingly, I don't find life in Tallinn anyhow inferior to Oslo. I will perhaps write more about it some time in the future, when I will have lived more long-term here.

What I can say for sure - professionally - it is definitely more interesting to work in Estonia than in Norway (for me personally - can't say for anyone else): more opportunities to do something meaningful, more entrepreneurial attitude of people, better access to bigger responsibilities, more flexibility.

As for my personal passion - bicycle - the opportunities for riding the bike in the city are on roughly the same level in Tallinn as in Oslo (which means: so-so, but not too bad either). Good enough for me ;)

Me in Tallinn on my new bicycle (disclaimer: the picture was taken in September and the weather is not always as good as that day) :)

Review: Writing Effective Use Cases

Writing Effective Use Cases by Alistair Cockburn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The book describes the methodology of putting the software requirements in written through the use cases. Very systematic and logical approach, clear and easy to understand guidelines for writing, quite good examples.

Sometimes, the methodology as a whole feels too dogmatic and sets quite strict limits. I did not find suggestions for schematic icons too useful either. Besides, the methodology feels a little bit outdated in 2012 (the book was written in 2001).

Overall, recommended to software analysts and software team leads - along with some newer books on the software requirements methodology.

Review: Kanban and Scrum - Making the Most of Both

Kanban and Scrum - Making the Most of Both by Henrik Kniberg

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A concise and easy to read guide on some of the "hottest" Agile methods for software development these days. The book provides useful guidelines on how to improve the software development practices on a team/organisational level. I found the case study presented in the second part to be somewhat long-winded - and would prefer more different examples instead. Otherwise, recommended to anyone working in IT sector on middle-management level (and all other levels too).

Review: Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams

Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams by Tom DeMarco

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book has been written by two IT managers/consultants whose main point is that people matter more than technology. People often allure themselves that they are in the high-tec business and that their primary objective is managing technology. In reality, the authors argue, an exceptional IT manager is dealing, first and foremost, with people management: their working environment, channelling their creativity, bolstering their sense of ownership in relation to the IT product they work with, supporting the strong team feeling, not wasting people's time...

Many of the book's theses are no brain teasers and are rather obvious for people with the intensive team management experience. However, the book as a whole is well substantiated, has many relevant examples and - last but least - has a good portion of wit.

Review: Iseseisvuspäev

Iseseisvuspäev by Kaur Kender

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Otsekohene, brutaalselt aus ja lihtsasti loetav lugu noorest mehest ja tema tegutsemistest aastail 1990-1991. Sõltuvalt lugejast võib teenida kas äratundmise, ajaloolise kroonika või tugeva meelelahutuse eesmärke.

What I like most about Norway?

What I like most about Norway?

Egalitarian social system.

Very nice people (most of the time).

High standard of living.

Alcohol policy... NOT! :) (I can't buy a bottle of wine after 15:00 on Saturdays and not at all on Sundays - I feel being treated a irresponsible kid by the society as whole, but, well, that's not the focus of this blog post) :)

There are even more things about Norway I like. But most of all - by far - I love the nature in this country. The fjords and mountains are so magnificent, the lakes so colourful. There are so many breathtaking views all around the country - and I have only seen a small bit of it.

Norway belongs to the TOP 3 countries for me in terms of the nature. All three are those I have lived in - Norway, Croatia and Kazakhstan. Norway has a great combination though. It is both not so much densely populated (there is a lot of untouched wild nature over here) and it has great infrastructure for hiking (marked paths, simple tourist accommodation, updated maps, safe roads etc).

My latest trip was to the area of Voss which is not too far away from Bergen - below are just some of the snapshots speaking for my love affair with the Norwegian nature (and the tiny lovely settlements around).

Review: The French Revolution: A Beginner's Guide

The French Revolution: A Beginner's Guide by Davies Peter

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A compact overview of the French Revolution (the end of the 18th century). The author does a good job listing the facts and clearly defining the different periods, while taking a neutral, rational approach to the analysis of this important historical event.

However, the book is rather dry and does not read as a coherent narrative - facts are followed by analysis, then new facts, new analysis etc. The last chapters are more interesting - especially in terms of highlighting the legends which have arisen after the French Revolution.

All in all, I would recommend this book.

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