Steve McConnell a leader in defining software engineering's best practices asserts that software development is entering a new era. Now's the time, McConnell says, for the industry to take notice and take action and establish a true profession of software engineering. But are you ready?

Through a provocative new collection of essays, AFTER THE GOLD RUSH examines the state of the industry and the critical developments already in motion that are shaping the future of professional software development. You'll investigate such questions as:

• Why is establishing a profession of software engineering critical to the industry's future?
• What constitutes software engineering's core body of knowledge and how should professional software engineers be trained?
• Why do software companies that embrace engineering practices have a formidable advantage over companies stuck in the code-and-fix cycle?
• As industry jobs evolve, what career opportunities will be available?
• Should software engineers be licensed?
• Will you need to be licensed?

Whether you're a programmer, student, manager, educator, or public-policy maker, AFTER THE GOLD RUSH illuminates your role and your stake in formalizing the software engineering profession. And it describes the essential next steps in developing this new world of higher productivity, lower costs, and better software.