Agile, Open-Source, and Visual Studio Online are all topics that quickly peak the interest of modern developers.  This month, Microsoft Press announced a new ebook, freely available for download, from some of the leading minds in this space.  The ALM Rangers are a special group for several reasons. Not only are they innovative and focused on the real world, providing value-added solutions for the Visual Studio developer community, but they live and work in all four corners of the globe. The ALM Rangers are a volunteer organization.

This is practical advice and examples for producing great software by those who’ve done it and–most importantly–are still innovating and coding. Readers will find that they have virtual coworkers who share their experiences with honesty and humor, revealing learnings and what has worked for them. This doesn’t mean that this book lacks prescriptive guidance. The Rangers have embraced Visual Studio Online as their one and only home. They are evolving with the product, embracing open source software in GitHub to learn how successful OSS projects are run there and what the community values most. They’ve created an ecosystem that identifies the “low hanging fruit” and tracks it from idea to solution, and they never fail to recognize the Rangers and the ALM VPs who dedicate their personal time and passion to their OSS projects.

Many of you may recognize contributing author, Brian Blackman, from the Premier Support for Developers team.  We congratulate Brian and the ALM Rangers on the release of Managing Agile Open-Source Software Projects with Microsoft Visual Studio Online.  Be sure an download your free copy today.