4 ms·
Ask HN: Which books can help one become a better programmer in any paradigm?
The answer to this question is generally SICP.
Are there other books of that caliber? Why do you think that the book you mention is good?
- breckenedge 4y agohttps://mapfilterfold.com/books/?genre=programming https://mapfilterfold.com/books/?genre=programming
- shakezula 4y agoI would heavily recommend Clean Code. Depending on the systems you’re working with, Designing Data Intensive Applications is a great read, too.
- _benj 4y agoCame here to recommend Clean Code too! Writing code emphatically for others or your future self doesn’t only make for easier to understand codebases but also for codebases that have less nooks and crannies where bugs, logical or technical can hide. Fully recommend this book!
- bjourne 4y agoReading books to become a better programmer is as effective as building muscle by looking at people lifting weights.
- LEDThereBeLight 4y agoThe best way to become better at something quickly is to learn from people who are much better than you. That’s what reading books does.
- PartiallyTyped 4y agoI really couldn’t resist responding, given [1,2], it seems reasonable that to a degree, watching people lifting weights increases strength. [1] https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-grow-stronger-without-lifting-weights/ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-grow-stron... [2] https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/the-mirror-neuron-how-imitating-our-role-models-shapes-our-brains https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/the-mirror-neuro...
- is_true 4y agoIt's actually the same, you watch others not to excersize but to improve your technique
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- Blackstrat 4y agoI would suggest that it depends on your platform, paradigm, and your experience level. SICP, Clean Code, Code Complete, The Gang of Four, DDIA, CLRS, etc. are all great books but their value, IMO, varies by environment, e.g., perhaps of different value to a web developer vs backend vs full stack. Certainly, these are of differing value to senior developers, who may use something like CLRS as a reference while it’s all “new” to someone just starting out. When I was hiring, I wanted folks who had written a lot of code, completed projects, understood support requirements and so forth. Yes, I asked them about what they had read recently. Yes, I expected them to keep up. But more importantly, show me you can code, explain your code, and deliver. Books help but practice helps more.
- pasttense01 4y agoAlgorithms are important. The classic work is the Art of Computer Programming by Donald Knuth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_Computer_Programming https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Art_of_Computer_Programmin...
- ddp 4y agoAfter SICP, I would recommend The Little Schemer https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780262560993 https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780262560993