Book review: Growing object-oriented software, guided by tests

"Growing Object-Oriented Software, Guided by Tests," published in 2010 by Steve Freeman and Nate Pryce, is a celebrated work in the Test-Driven Development (TDD) community, offering a practical guide to developing a non-trivial application using TDD. The book provides a concise introduction to testing practices and object-oriented design, quickly moving into the development of a Java desktop application for bidding in online auctions via XMPP, with a focus on real-life coding challenges such as external dependencies and asynchronous code. The authors share their design philosophy and coding approach, offering insights into the iterative process of learning and refactoring, rather than presenting idealized solutions. The book is noted for its rigorous and clear writing style, characteristic of the Addison-Wesley signature series, and it emphasizes the importance of maintaining concise, effective tests and recognizing class responsibility boundaries. The work is particularly beneficial for those who feel uncertain about their coding practices despite extensive exposure to software design and testing resources.