Head First Software Architecture / after Head First Java

Hi,

I have emotional feelings about reading Head First Java in 2009. A couple of days ago, I thought about reading up on architecture, and today I received an email from Coderanch about Head First Software Architecture.

Thank you to the authors for their time.

I believe this book won't disappoint me.

What are the main objectives of 'Head First Software Architecture,' and how does it differentiate itself from other architecture books?

Can you share any personal experiences or insights that influenced the writing of this book?

Hello Vidhya,

Thank you for your post and question. I am sure Mark and Neal can provide their thoughts here as well, but let me start by saying that I, like you, am a huge fan of the Head First series. So much so, this is my second Head First book (the first being Head First Git).

Here are some of the factors that differentiate Head First Software Architecture from other architecture books:

- It's Head First! We've aimed to make the book extremely accessible to developers to up their skills to think about architecture, and even help what we call "accidental architects" get a more formal introduction to software architecture. As you know, Head First not only teaches ideas but gives you ample opportunities to exercise those skills. In fact, in this book, not only do you spend a lot of time thinking about architecture, there are two full chapters that we've called DIY chapters, where you are presented with a set of requirements, and you have to build out the full architecture for that problem domain. And the best part—we give you our solution, so you can compare it with yours
- Mark and Neal have not only written two of O'Reilly's best selling books on architecture (https://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Software-Architecture-Comprehensive-Characteristics/dp/1492043451/ and https://www.amazon.com/Software-Architecture-Trade-Off-Distributed-Architectures/dp/1492086894/, they are very experienced architects, and have been teaching this material to audiences around the world for close to a decade. One couldn't ask for better teachers.
- Finally, this book has a modern approach to software architecture, shedding some legacy ideas and embracing what is truly relevant in the world of software that we live in. If you've ever read a book on software architecture and felt it was too academic, well, you are in for a pleasant surprise.

As for personal experience, I believe books are extremely personal. Our experiences influence what we believe is important for the reader to know and how to teach it. All three of us have been writing software for a long time, and we know where things went right, and more importantly, when things went awry. All the lessons in this book come from the distilled knowledge we've managed to acquire over our careers.

Hope this helps.

Warm regards,
Raju

Hi Raju,

Thank you so much for your detailed response and for sharing  Head First Software Architecture. It's fascinating to hear about the unique aspects of this book and how it stands out from other architecture books.

I appreciate the emphasis on accessibility, practical exercises, and the modern approach to software architecture. Knowing that the book includes DIY chapters where we can apply the concepts and compare our solutions with yours is incredibly exciting.

Also, it's great to hear about the wealth of experience that you, Mark, and Neal bring to the book. Your personal experiences and the lessons learned throughout your careers make this book even more valuable.

Thank you once again for your time and for providing such a comprehensive overview. I'm looking forward to diving into the book and enhancing my architectural skills.

regards,
Vidhya