Resources

For those wanting more information on Software Safety Engineering, Functional Safety and Requirements Engineering we’ve compiled a list of resources and reading materials that we have personally read and used.  We hope you enjoy!

Recommended Books

Oxford Dictionary of Computer Science

Even at Furious Towers  we cannot know all the terminology, acronyms and abbreviations from the ever-growing world of Computer Science(in fact, even Marvin – who had a brain the size of a planet –  couldn’t possibly…).  Clearly this isn’t recommended for cover-to-cover reading (unless you are that way inclined), but this handy tome is a must-have addition to any workspace.  Don’t leave home without one!

 

 

Hazard Analysis Techniques for System Safety

As the back cover states – “A practical guide to identifying hazards using common hazard analysis techniques”. Ericson’s useful tome is an easy-to-read and well-written guide to the theories behind, and practical uses of the common functional safety engineering analysis tools and methods.  A great entry-level guide.

 

 

Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking.  

Whether you’re a security/IT contractor who is charged with protecting valuable data and servers; or just want to do all in your power to prevent you from becoming the next fraud statistic, this is one heck of a read.  Written by a pre-eminent Social Engineer (and one of the founders of the popular television programme ‘The Real Hustle’), this book will amaze, shock, and astound in equal measure.  No matter your prolific, state-of-the-art protection systems, the weakness will always be the soft, squidgy interface.

 

 

We  also thought it would be really useful to link all of our great articles on all things freelance in a convenient one-stop page for our readers to bookmark to as a handy go-to guide for the latest information – providing a handy resource for freelancers.  We hope you enjoy it – and we’ll add to it with every new article on freelancing.

Recommended Books

The Contractors’ Handbook: The Expert Guide for UK Freelancers and Contractors.  Without hesitation, we can state that this book is the most useful read across all of our bookshelves.  If you’re already a freelancer or contractor then this book may just represent the best investment you could make.  If you’re considering a move into the ‘gig economy’, and are not sure whether this would be the best move for you…BUY THE BOOK.  From memory, you’ll know for sure by about page 16.  Caplin pulls no punches, and this easy-to-read book is both a fantastic reference source and an enjoyable read to boot.

 

 

 

Freelancing Articles

• Becoming a better freelancer series:
  • To freelance or not to freelance (that is the question!)
  • 7 advantages and disadvantages of the freelance lifestyle
  • When are you ready to freelance?
  • Is there a freelance market for your skills?
  • Developing your freelance brand
• 7 things to do in your first year as a freelancer
• 10 Daily tasks for business growth
• Effective networking for the freelancer
• How to work effectively from home
• Social Media and the freelancer
• So how do you price yourself for freelance roles?
• The freelancer’s basic survival kit
• Why I became a freelancer
• The freelance interviews:
  • Simon Short – Project Management and Change Management for IT and Communications
  • Adam Davey – the client’s perspective
• Taxation and Finance:
  • VAT Calculations – how to charge for overheads, recharges and disbursements
  • Are dividends going to go out of fashion?
  • Are you a volunteer tax payer? Could you pay less tax?
• Freelance writing:
  • Wanna write? Learn to right