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Books to Read as a Developer

Tina Huynh on March 23, 2022

Choosing a career in tech. is choosing an endless life learning. But, then again, which career isn't like that? Improvement is critical after all. ...

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Kimmo Sääskilahti • Mar 23 '22

Great article! I love Pragmatic Programmer, I refer to the tips regularly pragprog.com/tips/

I would also recommend Software Engineering at Google, it's a fantastic reference for everyday work.

Karel De Smet • Mar 27 '22 • Edited

I also firmly agree! It is more high-level than the average book on software development, yet adds so much value to different domains (testing, metrics, code analysis ...). And it really explains in-depth how Google approaches the different aspects of software engineering. An absolute cracker!

Lorenzo Zarantonello • Mar 26 '22

I agree with Kimmo on Software Engineering at Google! Take a look at that:)

Tina Huynh • Mar 23 '22 • Edited

thanks for the link and suggestion! I will definitely look into it and add it to the article <3

Sumant • Mar 23 '22

97 Things Every Programmer Should Know - This book covers wisdoms from experienced programmers who point out the key skills and techniques required.

peerreynders • Mar 23 '22

97 Things Every Programmer Should Know

Tina Huynh • Mar 23 '22

Thanks for the link

Diego (Relatable Code) • Mar 23 '22

i second this. Just a lot of best practices and its very digestible.

𒎏Wii 🏳️‍⚧️ • Apr 1 '22

Improve code by removing it

Is still my absolute favourite programming quote by far and will likely continue to be forever. That book really is the "art of war" of programming :D

Reese Poirier • Mar 24 '22

Ditch Clean Code, but otherwise it's a good list.
We really should be actively working to deplatform "Uncle Bob" not inflicting him on the next generation.

Tina Huynh • Mar 24 '22

Thanks for the suggestion :) always appreciated

Timilehin Bakare • Mar 26 '22

Why should we "deplatform" Uncle Bob?

TheNickest • Mar 25 '22

Why is that? I am 1/3 through it and was able to get some inspiration.

Brian Kirkpatrick • Mar 24 '22

Great recs! I'd also add (while not as pragmatic to developing day-to-day programming skills) the excellent "Masterminds of Programming", by Biancozzi and Warden (https://smile.amazon.com/Masterminds-Programming-Conversations-Creators-Languages/dp/0596515170/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=1XX8IL4F0BZRN&keywords=masterminds+of+programming&qid=1648103695&sprefix=masterminds+of+Programming%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1). It's a series of interviews with the designers of different programming languages, partly trash-talking each other but also with some fascinating insights into what trades and objectives go into different languages, their features, and their quirks.

Tina Huynh • Mar 24 '22

Thanks for the suggestion and links :) I will definitely look into it

OssiDev • Mar 27 '22 • Edited

Refactoring in it's essence is quite simple. I have been planning on reading Fowler's book on it, but I just can't understand how they made an entire book of a simple concept like that. Don't get me wrong, I love the concept of refactoring, but it's something that doesn't require an entire book to understand. Having read some of his previous books, I will most likely never read this one as they are not the most intriguing, really.

If you're interested in topics beyond just coding, I would recommend Domain Driven Design: : Tackling Complexity at the Heart of Software by Eric Evans. A must read for any great programmer and language agnostic. Also, Clean Architecture , by Robert C. Martin who also wrote Clean Code and Clean Agile (amongs other things). It contains things like the best description for SOLID principles, which are heavily used in his idea of clean architecture.

People interested in DevOps should definitely read Accelerate: The Science of Lean Software and DevOps: Building and Scaling High Performing Technology Organizations and The DevOps Handbook, for starters. There are other great books about DevOps too, and the ones I mentioned focus heavily on teaching the principles of DevOps at a team / organizational level.

There's one book about development I think I could recommend and that's Dave Farley's Modern Software Engineering, which is also quite language agnostic and speaks more about how to work iteratively and how to adapt to a learning mindset.

Tina Huynh • Mar 27 '22

Thanks for the recommendations :D

Filip Paryż • Mar 30 '22

From your list I've already read through the Clean Code years ago and thinking about the next book. I'm considering the Pragmatic Programmer, Code complete and Working Effectively with Legacy Code. The last one scares me even though it would be very helpful in my work in the last year. Thankfully I don't need it for now, but may need the knowledge later on in my career. I'll probably go with Code complete for now on though.
Lately I've read through the "Data structures and program design using C++" and it was a journey for sure. Even though I knew most of the beginning, the later parts of the book cleared up a lot of things for me! I highly recommend it even if you don't work with C++! :)

Charlène Bonnardeaux • Mar 26 '22

On my side I’ve just finished the Art of logic by Eugenia Chang. It’s not really about programming per se but this book give me a sort of wisdom on how to think, how to solve issues and how to argue. And it was a really fun, and great writing book!

Tina Huynh • Mar 27 '22

Thanks for the recommendation :) Non-programming books and programming books are both useful in its own ways

Toby Parent • Mar 24 '22

Head First Design Patterns is absolutely an incredible resource. The examples are useful in a more abstract sense (if you can separate Java from concept, you're good!), and the tone is playful and readable.

I'm also a fan of Clean Code by Robert Martin, and Composing Software by Eric Elliot. I have a "top 50" list saved as ebooks on my tablet - even on vacation or on the road, nerd-reading is the best reading!

Tina Huynh • Mar 24 '22

What are some of the books you have on your top 50? 🤔

Cenny Davidsson • Mar 26 '22 • Edited

I think apprenticeships patterns (programmingbooks.dev/#apprenticesh...) and Pragmatic thinking and Learning (programmingbooks.dev/#pragmatic-th...) are two must read books. The earlier you read them in your career the better.

Tina Huynh • Mar 26 '22

Thanks for the links and recommendations

SOJIN SAMUEL • Mar 29 '22

When I was starting out my programming journey the one book which hit me hard and made me to concentrate in an entirely different way was a book called the one thing from Garry keller. and yes its not definitely a book about programming. but i can vow that this book will boost up your productivity and your concentration as a programmer to the next level.
this is from my personal reviews you can simple check out the book from here.The One Thing by Garry keller