I'm about to start university as an aspiring software developer this August, and I'm eager to boost my programming skills before classes begin. I've heard a lot about four specific books that are often recommended: *CODE* by Charles Petzold, *Code Complete* by Steve McConnell, *The Pragmatic Programmer* by David Thomas and Andrew Hunt, and *Clean Code* by Robert C. Martin. Based on your experiences, which ones would you suggest I dive into? What subjects do they cover? Are there significant overlaps among these books, or do they each provide distinct insights?
6 Answers
I can speak for *Clean Code*. It really shaped my understanding of what software engineering is all about, especially when it comes to trade-offs. I still apply what I learned from it regularly to write cleaner and more maintainable code. Just remember not to follow every single piece of advice blindly—it can sometimes complicate things unnecessarily. Learn to judge which principles matter in a given situation!
If you’re just starting out, I’d say none of these books are essential right now. Focus on getting the basics down first—variables, loops, conditionals—before picking up these more complex reads. *The Pragmatic Programmer* is great, but it’ll make more sense later in your studies. Build a solid foundation first!
All four books are recommended, but they each serve different purposes. *CODE* is more about computer fundamentals, while *Code Complete* and *Clean Code* focus on practical coding skills. *The Pragmatic Programmer* goes deeper into the mindset and best practices for software engineering. There is some overlap, but each book offers something unique. As a side note, check out prepare.sh for interview questions—it’s been super helpful for me in preparing hands-on skills!
Honestly, I think you should read all of them at some point! They each bring unique perspectives. Even though there’s some overlap, you’ll appreciate different viewpoints. Just pick one, dive in, reflect on it, and then move to the next. It's a journey!
*Code Complete* was a classic, though it's a bit dated now. There’s supposedly a newer edition, but I felt it didn’t really upgrade anything substantial. As for *CODE*, it’s fascinating—it dives deep into the history and architecture of computing but isn't really a hands-on programming book. I found *Clean Code* too Java-oriented. Personally, I’d recommend *The Pragmatic Programmer*—it covers a lot of valuable insights that all developers use, even if they don't always realize it!
I’ve read *CODE* twice. It’s an awesome look into computer architecture! On the other hand, *Code Complete* and *The Pragmatic Programmer* are great for understanding solid programming practices, but I'd say lean towards the latter. *Clean Code* sometimes gets overhyped and its approach can be extreme; check out that GitHub discussion around it for more context. Also, consider *A Philosophy of Software Design* by John Ousterhout—it’s a fantastic read that covers what good abstractions are and can really enhance your understanding of coding.
John Ousterhout’s work is indeed my go-to for software development philosophy. His ideas are clear and actionable.
+1 for APOSD! It gave me a great definition of abstraction and its applications. It's shorter than *Clean Code*, too, and pairs well with *The Pragmatic Programmer*, which focuses more on day-to-day developer practices. They complement each other nicely.
Absolutely! Comments are key. You might think your code is crystal clear now, but trust me, a couple of months down the line, you might wonder what you were thinking if you don’t annotate it.