This svelte volume discusses an issue of such extreme importance that I am tempted to say that if all one does is contemplate the meanings of the title, he or she is already ahead. Obviously, that is not what this review is about, but the depth of significance, and the timeliness, of this book cannot be emphasized enough. Luckily, the author justifies tackling this subject by doing it with a book that is both eminently readable, and just as highly worth reading. This is one of those books of which one can say that it is a good book that is worth using; now what remains is to discover for whom it will be of use.

This book discusses legacy code and the techniques a professional can use to manipulate it more effectively. The author clearly has a significant background in the process.

The book opens with a prediction:

Future information systems will have to support smooth interaction with a large variety of independent multivendor data sources and legacy applications, running on heterogeneous platforms and distributed information networks. Metadata will play a crucial role in describing the contents of such data sources and in facilitating their integration.

Generally, predictions can be dangerous, particularly when mixed with the subject of legacy systems, which tends to imply to most people something old. But, a legacy system is one that was completed and released only yesterday.

The principle also appears in the foreword: “Systems must be aligned with evolving business processes.” Beyond that basic statement, systems must align with business processes, and be constantly realigned. Systems that do not have the flexibility to be realigned constantly tend to inhibit corporate processes, which inhibits growth. If those in an information technology (IT) department want to upset management, they can tell them that the systems can’t do what they next want the company to do, and that it will be very difficult and expensive to make them. This kind of statement is not a smart career move.

However, performing this alignment (and realignment, and re-realignment) is very difficult. The solution is a methodology that presents tools, models, and concepts for tasking and planning the processes involved--Heuvel provides a service by supplying them.

Are these methods equally applicable to everyone? Certainly not, and I would suggest that if the legacy system involved is a process system or control system, this book will be of less applicability than if the system is a business information system.

From the title, one could infer that the book is not limited, and should be equally applicable to everyone. In reality, the book’s usefulness remains unclear. I might opine that the book’s value is probably primarily for the technical user, that is, those who are actually going to implement systems.

The writing style is European; it even has real mathematics (but don’t let that frighten you, at least not too much). The models and their visualizations are more important than the math. Discussed is a very complex task with many aspects, and involving many players, which is always difficult. Figures, like Figure 4.12, make the task easier to comprehend, as well as the communications between team members. I recognize that not everyone will find the European influence easy, or a customary read. Personally, I happen to like the style: succinct, without being terse. I found the explanations exact, without droning. Some may find that that means too little detail, and I surmise that may be an issue of taste. The typeface is readable, and the binding is robust. As a matter of fact, the book is very professionally presented. It is organized methodically and reasonably, and is quite reasonably illustrated; more than that, the artwork is attractive, clear, and visual.

If one needs to apply a methodology to this task, which I would certainly recommend, then this book is clearly a good choice. If one needs to first learn about legacy systems, and the tasks involved in their manipulation, this is not the right book. In closing, I recommend this book for both academic and corporate libraries.