The Joel Test

Do you use source control? Can you make a build in one step? Do you make daily builds? Do you have a bug database? Do you fix bugs before writing new code? Do you have an up-to-date schedule? Do you have a spec? Do programmers have quiet working conditions? Do you use the best tools money can buy? Do you have testers? Do new candidates write code during their interview? Do you do hallway usability testing? Joel Spolsky's Joel Test (How Good is your software team)

Software Architecture Patterns and Best Practices

• The fundamental rule is that all code can depend on layers more central, but code cannot depend on layers further out from the core.  In other words, all coupling is toward the center.   This architecture is unashamedly biased toward object-oriented programming, and it puts objects before all others. Onion Architecture