CST438 - Week 4

CST438: Software Engineering – Week 4

I find the book Software Engineering at Google a very good choice for this course, since it highlights the journey of Alphabet as one of the largest software development companies. The book goes beyond the short-lived academic coding assignments by exploring the formal stages of development and maintaining sustainable software.

The first chapter lays the fundamental distinction between software engineering and programming. The most interesting part of the book is the details regarding Google’s framework for its codebase and culture. For instance, Google strictly follows a process for code review on any changes. The process is simple, efficient, and effective in ensuring the integrity of the code before committing changes. The use of a scalable critique tool processes review requests in a timely manner in support of larger changes.

Additionally, Google has changed software testing by adopting automation, leading a major transformation in software engineering practices. In my opinion, this cultural shift is one of the most impactful changes Google has made to accelerate the development and deployment of technological innovations. These innovations have influenced modern DevOps culture, agile development, and large-scale engineering, allowing faster and more reliable releases. Many tech companies have now adopted similar models, increasing software release velocity and stability across the industry. It is worth noting that Google did not invent automated testing but refined it to support operations at scale. Finally, the authors share their extraordinary knowledge and experiences from years of working at Google, giving readers a deeper understanding of what it takes to build and scale software at a high level.