I see by the old Book-O-Matic™ clock on the wall that it has been at least 5 minutes since I've posted a bibliographical reference of some kind, so here is a short list of books that are not directly about code. They are a kind of indirect pointer to coding. I recommend these books as a small part of what it takes to ground yourself in the art and practice of programming. Read these when you wonder what it is all about. Read them when you wonder why bother? Hell, just read them— test on Monday!

Update: Fixed links.

–hsm

"Never try to teach a pig to sing…it wastes your time and it annoys the pig."
  • Comment on Book Recommendations - Solution to problem of time on hands

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Re: Solution to problem of time on hands
by redsquirrel (Hermit) on Jan 18, 2002 at 19:42 UTC
    Thanks for the recommendations! Since my entire technical education has been based on Perl books and c.l.p.m. (and more recently from PerlMonks), I'm constantly on the lookout for resources that will enhance the art and practice of programming. I'm becoming increasingly addicted to learning how to program.

    --Dave

    see my home node to see what I'm reading lately

[reply]

      Hi redsquirrel. I've been writing code in various languages since 1966. You'll notice I avoid the word "programming" because the `training' we got was an IBM language manual.

      Thanks to Perl Monks, I recently heard about

      Steve McConnell's Code Complete.

      What an eye-opener! It was also a very humbling experience, and I feel a certain dismay at some of the code I have left in my wake 8-(

      I checked out your Perl Monks page, and didn't see it listed. In the words of the sage "Do yourself a favour... add it to your list". With your avowed intent of learning the art and craft of programming, this should give you a lift up the food chain - if that's not mangling a metaphor too cruelly ;-)

      Best wishes
      hagen
[reply]

        There are some pretty damn good "software engineering" books published by Microsoft Press. As well as Code Complete I can recommend: Writing Solid Code - Steve Maguire and don't forget the classic: The Mythical Man-Month - Brooks.

        gav^

[reply]
        Thanks for the recommmendation hagen. Much appreciated. I've heard of Code Complete, but now I'll have to take a closer look!

        I've added it to my Amazon Wish List. So many books, so little time. :-)

        --Dave

        ps gav^, you'll notice that Mythical Man Month has been on the list for a while. Wanna buy it for me? ;-)

[reply]

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