What are some recommended books for writing better code?

It sounds like you're also interested in style guides for consistency in coding. That's super important! Efficient and readable code often comes from practice, like doing code reviews and examining quality code. Try to focus on making your code self-documenting; for example, use meaningful variable names instead of one-letter ones. It makes a huge difference!

One of my top picks is "Code Complete" by Steve McConnell. It's a solid foundation for programming practices. It can be a bit lengthy and dated, though. Another great one is "Clean Code" by Robert C. Martin, which gives a lot of practical advice through examples. If you're into automated tests, "Growing Object-Oriented Software, Guided by Tests" is worth a look. Each book has its strengths and weaknesses, but they can all help improve your coding style.

In 2025, the focus on file size is less critical than it used to be. It’s more about making your code work and neat rather than just small in size. Prioritize readability first, then think about efficiency. It’s easy to favor efficiency over clarity but that can lead to confusion for others reading your code. Prioritize meaningful names for functions and variables – they serve as documentation on their own!

You should definitely check out some classics like "Think Like A Programmer" by V. Anton Spraul and "The Pragmatic Programmer" by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas. If you want something a bit comprehensive, "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs" by Abelson and Sussman is a must-read. A lot of people swear by "Clean Code" too, even though it's somewhat debated these days. It really dives into how to write clean and efficient code!

It's tough to apply these practices consistently. Focus on readability, then add efficiency later. Remember that many times, unless you're fixing algorithms, you won’t notice a significant speed difference in small optimizations. Good function and variable names can make code clearer than just relying on comments. The DRY principle is key too—avoid code duplication by creating functions instead of repeating code!