The best books for software developers
Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.
Reading is important because it develops our thoughts, gives us endless knowledge and lessons to read while keeping our minds active.
A book can be the perfect mentor for you.
If you read one good programming book every month, you’ll soon have a firm grasp on the industry and distinguish yourself from nearly every developer around you.
There are thousands of books, but not all of them are equally good. Below you can find a list of the best programming books of all time:
1. Clean code
Author: Robert C. Martin
Topic: coding
Level: beginner
Clean Code is divided into three parts.
The first one describes the principles, patterns, and practices of writing clean code.
The second part consists of several case studies of increasing complexity. Each case study is an exercise in cleaning up code — of transforming a code base that has some problems into one that is sound and efficient.
The third part is the payoff: a single chapter containing a list of heuristics and “smells” gathered while creating the case studies. The result is a knowledge base that describes the way we think when we write, read, and clean code.
Readers will come away from this book understanding:
- How to tell the difference between good and bad code
- How to write good code and how to transform bad code into good code
- How to create good names, good functions, good objects, and good classes
- How to format code for maximum readability
- How to implement complete error handling without obscuring code logic
- How to unit test and practice test-driven development
This book is a must for any developer, software engineer, project manager, team lead, or systems analyst with an interest in producing better code.
2. The pragmatic programmer
Authors: Andy Hunt, Dave Thomas
Topic: general programming
Level: beginner
The Pragmatic Programmer cuts through the increasing specialization and technicalities of modern software development to examine the core process — taking a requirement and producing working, maintainable code that delights its users.
It covers topics ranging from personal responsibility and career development to architectural techniques for keeping your code flexible and easy to adapt and reuse.
Read this book, and you'll learn how to:
- Fight software rot
- Avoid the trap of duplicating knowledge
- Write a flexible, dynamic, and adaptable code
- Avoid programming by coincidence
- Bullet-proof your code with contracts, assertions, and exceptions
- Capture real requirements
- Test ruthlessly and effectively
- Delight your users
- Build teams of pragmatic programmers
- Make your developments more precise with automation.
Written as a series of self-contained sections and filled with entertaining anecdotes, thoughtful examples, and interesting analogies, The Pragmatic Programmer illustrates the best practices and major pitfalls of many different aspects of software development.
2. The Clean Coder
Author: Robert C. Martin
Topic: soft skills
Level: beginner/intermediate
In The Clean Coder: A Code of Conduct for Professional Programmers, legendary software expert Robert C. Martin introduces the disciplines, techniques, tools, and practices of true software craftsmanship. This book is packed with practical advice–about everything from estimating and coding to refactoring and testing.
It covers much more than technique: It is about attitude. Martin shows how to approach software development with honor, self-respect, and pride; work well and work clean; communicate and estimate faithfully; face difficult decisions with clarity and honesty, and understand that deep knowledge comes with a responsibility to act.
Readers will learn:
- What it means to behave as a true software craftsman
- How to deal with conflict, tight schedules, and unreasonable managers
- How to get into the flow of coding, and get past writer’s block
- How to handle unrelenting pressure and avoid burnout
- How to combine enduring attitudes with new development paradigms
- How to manage your time, and avoid blind alleys, marshes, bogs, and swamps
- How to foster environments where programmers and teams can thrive
- When to say “No”–and how to say it
- When to say “Yes”–and what yes really means
Great software is something to marvel at — powerful, elegant, functional -> a pleasure to work with as both a developer and as a user.
Great software isn’t written by machines. It is written by professionals with an unshakable commitment to craftsmanship
4. Growing object-oriented software guided by tests
Author: Steve Freeman, Nat Pryce
Topic: Testing and TDD
Level: intermediate
GOOS is not only the most practical book on test-driven development but also the best book about automated software testing in general. This book shows how to create a realistic project using TDD and is full of code examples.
When you meet a developer skeptical about TDD, give him this book!
5. Nonviolent communication
Author: Marshall Rosenberg
Topic: communication skills
Level: advanced
NVC is a brilliant book on how to deal with different, sometimes complicated people. NVC provides an effective way of communicating, resolving conflicts, learning about ourselves and others, and living according to our needs and values.
This book will change how you deal with colleagues, friends, and family.
A final thought…
Developing yourself personally and professionally is a lifelong endeavor. Discover some of your favorite career development books that teach, motivate, and focus your life and keep that bookshelf handy at all times.
These are just a few of the many titles out there. Enjoy!
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