Microsoft's "Bluebooks"

http://blogs.msdn.com/jmeier/archive/2010/03/07/the-power-of-blue-books-for-platform-impact.aspx

Microsoft's "Bluebooks" are the works put out by the Patterns and Practices group. They cover a variety of topics including architecture, security, and testing.

"Ultimately, Blue Books give us a strategic look at platform pain points as well as competitive analysis, and a consolidated set of success patterns to run with....

Benefits at a Glance
Here is a quick rundown of some of the key ways that Blue Books have helped Microsoft and customers win time and again:

• Platform Playbooks - Serve as platform playbooks for Microsoft, field, support, customers, and partners
• Shaping the Platform and Tools – Shape the platform and tools by testing out patterns and practices as well as methodologies and methods with the broad community before baking into the platform and tools.
• Scaling Success Patterns - Broadly scale proven practices and success patterns for predictable results
• Roadmaps for Platform Adoption - Lay out roadmaps for technology adoption as well as success patterns
• Competitive Wins - Win competitive assessments (the Blue Books have played a critical role in influencing industry analysts and in winning competitive assessments time and again)
• Innovation for Exponential Success - Innovate in methodologies and methods for exponentially improving customer success on the platform
• Frame and Name the Problem Domains – Frame out and name the problem spaces and domains (when you frame out and name a space, whether through patterns or pattern languages, you create a shared vocabulary and model that empowers people to make forward progress at a faster pace and more deliberate way.)

The list goes on, but the essence is that these playbooks help customers make the most of the platform by sharing the know-how through prescriptive architectural guidance."