I'm a backend .NET web developer with six years under my belt, but I've taught myself most of what I know without much formal training or reading materials. I've had three jobs so far: my first was fantastic, sparking my love for software; my second left me unmotivated since I had minimal work and just watched random YouTube videos; the third one felt limiting, where I was just following strict guidelines without making real decisions.
Now, I'm on the hunt for a book or topic that is stimulating and relevant in today's tech landscape, ideally something that can teach me concepts not typically covered in daily practice. I'm open to exploring subjects completely outside my current field as well. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
You might find this big list of projects useful: https://github.com/practical-tutorials/project-based-learning?tab=readme-ov-file. If you’re into programming languages, check out https://craftinginterpreters.com/. It’s humorously written and explains how code is interpreted and compiled—great for foundational concepts!
Have you thought about diving into graphics programming? It can be quite a challenge, though—especially if your math skills are a bit rusty.
That does sound challenging! My math is pretty basic; do you think that would hold me back?
Here are some great reads:
- "Think Like A Programmer" by V. Anton Spraul
- "The Pragmatic Programmer" by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas
- "Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs" (SICP) by Abelson and Sussman
- "Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software" by Charles Petzold
Thank you for these suggestions, I appreciate it!
You should check out "Designing Data-Intensive Applications". It’s highly recommended and can really give you a fresh perspective on modern software practices!
That's actually the first suggestion I saw too! I'm definitely going to read it, thanks!
This sounds super interesting! Thanks for the find!