J. B. Rainsberger

Who are you?

J. B. Rainsberger helps software companies better satisfy their customers and the businesses they support. Over the years, he has learned to write valuable software, overcome many of his social deficiencies, and built a life that he loves. He has traveled the world sharing what he’s learned, hoping to help other people get what they want out of work and out of their lives. Recently he has launched AgileTutor.com, so that he can help even more people start getting the advice they need with minimal investment. He lives in Atlantic Canada with his wife, Sarah, and three cats.

Can you describe your Leanpub books? Are they in-progress or complete? What types of books are they?

I have one in-progress book entitled “Responsible Design for Android” in which I explore how to write an Android application in Java without letting the Android application framework swallow my code whole. It incorporates ideas from lean/agile software architecture and provides a real-life example of what one might call “agile architecture” or “agile design”.

What do you think about Leanpub?

I have found the Leanpub experience both maddening and exhilarating. I have really enjoyed the direct contact with readers and watching the popularity of the book change over time. Unfortunately, when I take a break from the book, my readers notice, and that puts some pressure on me to keep writing. This can help or hinder me, depending on my mood.

Why do you use Leanpub?

I chose Leanpub in order to get direct feedback from the market about my work, the topic, and the way I’ve presented it. I’ve learned a lot in all these areas.

How did you discover Leanpub?

Friends and colleagues had started writing books, so I thought I’d try it out myself.

What’s your favorite Leanpub feature?

Without question, the variable price structure. I get very valuable feedback about my work by seeing how many people willingly pay more than the minimum price.

How have you reached out to potential and existing readers of your books?

I haven’t, much, only because I’d rather have finished more of the book first.

What are your thoughts on the Lean Publishing approach? What types of books, and what types of authors, do you think it is good for?

Although Leanpub seems aimed at programming books, formatting code samples for multiple e-book formats is tricky. I haven’t figured out how to do it well. My next Leanpub book will not include much code, or at least, will include it differently.

How long was your first Leanpub book when you first clicked the publish button? Would you publish earlier or later next time?

As I recall, my first published version had only 2 chapters and 1 appendix, and so perhaps 20-30 pages. I don’t regret it.

How can we improve Leanpub?

Give us more “guard rails” on how to include code samples in our books that look better. Ideally, just figure out how to make them pretty for us.