Steve McConnell
Encyclopedia
Steven C. McConnell is an author of many software engineering
textbooks including Code Complete
, Rapid Development, and Software Estimation. In 1998, McConnell was named as one of the three most influential people in the software industry by Software Development Magazine, along with Bill Gates
and Linus Torvalds
.
in Walla Walla, Washington
(magna cum laude
, Phi Beta Kappa
), and a Master's degree in software engineering
from Seattle University
. He then pursued a career in the desktop software industry, working at Microsoft
, Boeing
, the Russell Investment Group
and several other Seattle area firms. At Microsoft, McConnell worked on TrueType
as part of Windows 3.1. At Boeing, he worked on a Strategic Defense Initiative
project.
McConnell published his first book, Code Complete
, in 1993. As of March 2007 he has been the CEO and Chief Software Engineer of Construx Software, a software engineering
consulting firm he founded in 1996.
From 1996 to 1998, he was the editor of the "Best Practices" column in the IEEE Software
magazine. From 1998 to 2002 he served as the editor-in-chief of the magazine. Since 1998, he has served on the Panel of Experts of the SWEBOK project. He has also served as the chair of the IEEE Computer Society's Professional Practices Committee. Since March 2006 McConnell has been a member of the executive committee for the Computer Society's Technical Council on Software Engineering.
Software engineering
Software Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software...
textbooks including Code Complete
Code Complete
Code Complete is a software development book, written by Steve McConnell and published in 1993 by Microsoft Press, urging developers to get past code and fix programming and the "big design up front" waterfall model...
, Rapid Development, and Software Estimation. In 1998, McConnell was named as one of the three most influential people in the software industry by Software Development Magazine, along with Bill Gates
Bill Gates
William Henry "Bill" Gates III is an American business magnate, investor, philanthropist, and author. Gates is the former CEO and current chairman of Microsoft, the software company he founded with Paul Allen...
and Linus Torvalds
Linus Torvalds
Linus Benedict Torvalds is a Finnish software engineer and hacker, best known for having initiated the development of the open source Linux kernel. He later became the chief architect of the Linux kernel, and now acts as the project's coordinator...
.
Career
McConnell graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Whitman CollegeWhitman College
Whitman College is a private, co-educational, non-sectarian, residential undergraduate liberal arts college located in Walla Walla, Washington. Initially founded as a seminary by a territorial legislative charter in 1859, the school became a four year degree granting institution in 1883...
in Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
(magna cum laude
Latin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
, Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa Society
The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor society. Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences"; and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and...
), and a Master's degree in software engineering
Software engineering
Software Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software...
from Seattle University
Seattle University
Seattle University is a Jesuit Catholic university located in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, USA.SU is the largest independent university in the Northwest US, with over 7,500 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within eight schools, and is one of 28 member...
. He then pursued a career in the desktop software industry, working at Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
, the Russell Investment Group
Russell Investment Group
Russell Investments is a subsidiary of Northwestern Mutual and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. Its previous headquarters were located in Tacoma, Washington, south of Seattle. The firm is a Turnkey Asset Management Program and provides investment products and services to individuals...
and several other Seattle area firms. At Microsoft, McConnell worked on TrueType
TrueType
TrueType is an outline font standard originally developed by Apple Computer in the late 1980s as a competitor to Adobe's Type 1 fonts used in PostScript...
as part of Windows 3.1. At Boeing, he worked on a Strategic Defense Initiative
Strategic Defense Initiative
The Strategic Defense Initiative was proposed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan on March 23, 1983 to use ground and space-based systems to protect the United States from attack by strategic nuclear ballistic missiles. The initiative focused on strategic defense rather than the prior strategic...
project.
McConnell published his first book, Code Complete
Code Complete
Code Complete is a software development book, written by Steve McConnell and published in 1993 by Microsoft Press, urging developers to get past code and fix programming and the "big design up front" waterfall model...
, in 1993. As of March 2007 he has been the CEO and Chief Software Engineer of Construx Software, a software engineering
Software engineering
Software Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software...
consulting firm he founded in 1996.
From 1996 to 1998, he was the editor of the "Best Practices" column in the IEEE Software
IEEE Software
IEEE Software is a broad-based practitioner-oriented magazine of IEEE Computer Society targeting software professionals, including business analysts, requirements engineers, designers, architects, developers, process improvement experts, testers, quality engineers, and project managers...
magazine. From 1998 to 2002 he served as the editor-in-chief of the magazine. Since 1998, he has served on the Panel of Experts of the SWEBOK project. He has also served as the chair of the IEEE Computer Society's Professional Practices Committee. Since March 2006 McConnell has been a member of the executive committee for the Computer Society's Technical Council on Software Engineering.
Books
- Code CompleteCode CompleteCode Complete is a software development book, written by Steve McConnell and published in 1993 by Microsoft Press, urging developers to get past code and fix programming and the "big design up front" waterfall model...
editions 1 (1993) ISBN 1-55615-484-4. Second edition (2004) ISBN 0-7356-1967-0 - Rapid Development (1996) ISBN 0-07-285060-4
- Software Project Survival Guide (1998) ISBN 1-57231-621-7
- After the Gold Rush (1999) ISBN 0-7356-0877-6
- Professional Software Development: Shorter Schedules, Higher Quality Products, More Successful Projects, Enhanced Careers (2004) ISBN 0-321-19367-9
- Software Estimation: Demystifying the Black Art (2006) ISBN 0-7356-0535-1
Papers
- From the Editor columns in IEEE Software
- Best Practices columns in IEEE Software
Service and memberships
- Construction Knowledge Area Lead (2003–2004), Panel of Experts (1998–2007) SWEBOK
- Member (1998–2007), Chair (2003–2005) IEEE Computer SocietyIEEE Computer SocietyThe IEEE Computer Society is a professional society of IEEE. Its purpose and scope is “to advance the theory, practice, and application of computer and information processing science and technology” and the “professional standing of its members.” The CS is the largest of 38 technical societies...
Professional Practices Committee - Editor in Chief (1998–2002), Columnist (1996–1998), Editor in Chief Emeritus (2003–2007) IEEE SoftwareIEEE SoftwareIEEE Software is a broad-based practitioner-oriented magazine of IEEE Computer Society targeting software professionals, including business analysts, requirements engineers, designers, architects, developers, process improvement experts, testers, quality engineers, and project managers...
magazine - Member, Executive Committee of the IEEE Computer Society'sIEEE Computer SocietyThe IEEE Computer Society is a professional society of IEEE. Its purpose and scope is “to advance the theory, practice, and application of computer and information processing science and technology” and the “professional standing of its members.” The CS is the largest of 38 technical societies...
Technical Council on Software Engineering (TCSE) (1998–2006) - Certified Software Development ProfessionalCertified Software Development ProfessionalCertified Software Development Professional is an ISO-accredited professional certification in software engineering offered by the IEEE Computer Society to mid-career software development practitioners...
(CSDP)
Awards
- Seattle University'sSeattle UniversitySeattle University is a Jesuit Catholic university located in the First Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, USA.SU is the largest independent university in the Northwest US, with over 7,500 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs within eight schools, and is one of 28 member...
"Alumni of the Year for Professional Accomplishment" award (2004) - IEEE Computer SocietyIEEE Computer SocietyThe IEEE Computer Society is a professional society of IEEE. Its purpose and scope is “to advance the theory, practice, and application of computer and information processing science and technology” and the “professional standing of its members.” The CS is the largest of 38 technical societies...
Golden Core (2003) - "40 Under 40" award (one of 40 top regional business leaders under 40 years of age), Puget Sound Business Journal (2000)
- Software Development Magazine Productivity Award for After the Gold Rush (2000)
- Software Development Magazine Productivity Award for ESTIMATE Professional estimation software (1999)
- Game Developer magazine Front Line Award for Software Project Survival Guide (1997)
- Software Development Magazine Jolt Award for Rapid Development (1997)
- Software Development Magazine Jolt Award for Code CompleteCode CompleteCode Complete is a software development book, written by Steve McConnell and published in 1993 by Microsoft Press, urging developers to get past code and fix programming and the "big design up front" waterfall model...
(1994)
External links
- Steve McConnell's website
- Construx Software, Steve McConnell's company