I’ve finally get my hands on Getting Real, the book from 37signals. After reading the free chapters available, I’ve decided to spend the $19 to get the full PDF.

I read the book in one sitting in just a couple of hours. The book is like their apps — clean, simple and very well written. I liked it a lot.

They talk about a lot of different topics covering the whole process of building software. Their approach is different from traditional software-building processes. They focus on pragmatism for getting things done. After reading this book you’ll find that traditional methodologies are heavy, overrated and inappropriate. Making software shouldn’t be a pain as is it today, it should be the opposite.

The advices they give are simple to remember and simple to follow. I’ve already experienced some of them and I just can say that it pays off. The software industry definitely needs a different look at the way of making software. Too many software projects fails because of complexity of processes, lack of focus, paperwork and office politics.

As the Internet and the web is changing the software industry, our development methodology must change as well.

A must read.