The Software Conspiracy: Why Software Companies Put Out Faulty Products, How They Can Hurt You, and What You Can Do about It

Great book. Really great book. I absolutely loved it. Reading this book has helped me to become a better programmer. It's just great. Really great. I love it.

Despite what other reviewers said before me, I would like to bring a different point of view. Maybe Mr. Minasi is a sunday afternoon programmer who's doesn't live the everyday life of a "real" programmer but he brings to us something precious.The software industry is sick and needs to be regulated. He expose clearly and honestly why we, customers, should be more concerned about software quality and our rights to use these products with a reasonable set of conditions. Making a product gives a company the right to receive money for its work but that previlege should also come with *responsabilities* towards the customers. So far, software manufacturers get away with it but YOU as an accountant, an architect, an engineer or a doctor are fully responsible for every act you perform. Why should it be different for these companies ?The issue of the license agreements is even more pathetic where abusive clauses are added as new versions comes out. The customer has no right what so ever against crappy softwares. It's clearly explained in his book...Finally, the whole point of this book is to provide a good understanding of the industry and also educate the public toward our rights as customers to buy and use good quality products. If we let them make the rules, we will loose big time and that's what this book brings up.

I would rate it 10 stars if they would let me. Software is an important part of our lives. Therefore having quality software is also important. Unfortunately the software companies seem to think that consumers don't care about quality and reliability. This book describes their attitudes, the consequences, and what to do about it. It even describes how the companies are working on making it legal for them to knowingly shipping to the consumer bug ridden software, and giving the consumer no recourse for this practice. This must stop and the book presents solutions to this. So if you ever had a problem with software (and who hasn't) buy and read this book. It is that important.

Mark is god, still. Great book, it's going to be a classic