4/27/2010 -- One of the last holdouts in moving to computer-based testing, interestingly enough, has been (ISC)2 , the organization behind the popular CSSLP (Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional) security certifications. This month they announced that they are moving the exams to the testing centers and will be using Pearson VUE centers around the world to administer/deliver them.  

There are currently over 66,000 certified worldwide by (ISC)2, and in addition to passing the exam, candidates must still "demonstrate four years of professional experience in the software development lifecycle process or three years of experience and a bachelor's degree (or regional equivalent) in an IT discipline."  

More information about this transition can be found here.  

Project+ Exam Updated

CompTIA has updated their Project+ exam (PK0-003) to include more focus on the "the business implications of good project management."  The exam now consists of 100 questions (previously it was 80) that must be answered in 90 minutes, and it covers five domains: pre-project setup and initiating (12 percent), project planning (29 percent), project execution and delivery (23 percent), change control and communication (27 percent) and project closure (9 percent).

Additionally, the passing score has raised to 710 (on a scale of 100-900) from the previous 499, and it is recommended that the candidate have one year  managing, directing or participating in small- to medium-scale projects (though there is no formal requirement for such).

The previous version of the CompTIA Project+ exam (PK0-002) will be offered in tandem with this one until it retires on March 31, 2011.

More information on the certification can be found here. 

Book of the Week: Making It Big in Software

It is about that time of year to start looking for a good book for a summer read. While the rest of the year, you have to focus on books specific to tasks at hand (how to code better, how to tweak the kernel, etc.), in the summer you can step back a bit and look for something more broad. Fitting that description perfectly is Sam Lightstone's Making It Big in Software . Billed as the Software Insider's Guide To Getting Hired and Getting To the Top, it has a chapter on all the key topics and most conclude with an interview by an industry luminary.

The twenty-three chapters are divided into three parts: Fundamentals, Leadership, and Greatness. Within them, you will find topics such as "School Versus Job," "Making the Most of the Early Years As a Software Developer," and "Leadership in Software Innovation." Not only is the chapter content good, but the interviews are worth the price of the book alone. Those interviewed include: Richard Stallman (Free Software Foundation), James Gosling (Java), Linus Torvalds (Linux), and Marc Benioff (Salesforce.com), to name a few.  Within those interviews, it is possible to hear from others who were once in situations similar to those you may be in now.

Again, this isn't a book that will immediately impact your career the way learning a few quick tricks of the trade may, but that isn't its intent. The gems you find within this book will make for a summer read well spent.