According to the preface, “This text provides both an easy to understand introduction to Government standards and a valuable reference to be used during actual work on Government contracts.” The author has done an extraordinary job of making good on this claim.
Those who have ever worked on a significant software development project for the government, or even prepared a proposal for one, know that such an endeavor is a maze of reports, regulations, interactions with government project managers, and alphabet soup. The list of acronyms given in an appendix is six pages long, and alone is almost worth the price of the book.
The author covers all current government regulations and standards concerning software development, some 41 (yes, I said 41) in all. He also outlines how various reports required by the federal government are to be prepared and gives helpful hints on how to complete them. The text is sprinkled with useful anecdotal information drawn from the author’s experience dealing with government contracts and contractors. In addition to being a valuable guide through the maze of federal regulations involving software development, the text also provides useful insights into software standards and project management.
The only caveat I would raise to what I consider a well-written and useful text is that government regulations and standards are continually being revised. If this work is to remain of value, it should be updated on a regular basis, perhaps using annual supplements.