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Perplexity: Based on the discussions from the provided Hacker News threads, here is a list of ten notable books recommended by users, particularly in the conte

by swah 2y ago

Perplexity: Based on the discussions from the provided Hacker News threads, here is a list of ten notable books recommended by users, particularly in the context of software engineering and programming: ## Top Ten Recommended Books - *The Pragmatic Programmer* by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas A classic in software development, this book offers practical advice and principles for programmers. - *Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship* by Robert C. Martin This book emphasizes writing clean, maintainable code and has become a staple in programming literature. - *A Philosophy of Software Design* by John Ousterhout This book provides insights into software design principles and the importance of simplicity in design. - *Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software* by Eric Evans A foundational text for understanding complex software systems and how to manage them effectively. - *Designing Data-Intensive Applications* by Martin Kleppmann This book covers the principles of designing applications that handle large volumes of data efficiently. - *Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code* by Martin Fowler Focuses on the process of refactoring code to improve its structure without changing its functionality. - *Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction* by Steve McConnell This comprehensive guide covers best practices in software construction and coding techniques. - *Effective Java* by Joshua Bloch A must-read for Java developers, this book provides best practices for writing robust Java code. - *The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering* by Frederick P. Brooks Jr. A classic work discussing the complexities and challenges of managing software projects. - *Programming Pearls* by Jon Bentley This book presents programming problems and solutions that enhance problem-solving skills and algorithmic thinking. These books are highly regarded within the programming community and cover a range of topics from coding practices to software design philosophies, making them valuable resources for both new and experienced developers. Citations: [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41387062 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41387062 [2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35929112 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35929112 [3] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32130578 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32130578 [4] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41387062 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41387062 [5] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35929112 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35929112 [6] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32130578 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32130578 [7] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29498220 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29498220 [8] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29306651 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29306651

muzani 2y ago
This sounds like a hallucination tbh. If you look from the other lists, something like Clean Code is hardly recommended and gets criticized quite a bit. It's not something that stands to the test of time. It's not a bad book, but it's the type of book a good list in 2025 should filter for.
- fabianholzer 2y ago
  I assume the "Perplexity" refers to the LLM that generated the list? As far as I can tell, none of the listed books are hallucinated though. But I completey agree with your take on Martins Clean Code book.
  - muzani 2y ago
    I mean it's not actually summarizing the threads. It's glancing over and then giving itd own personal opinion.
- nadis 2y ago
  I tend to agree -- it's hard to say without looking at the data more closely but the list is a little outside the scope and intent of my question. It's also possible I could've asked my "ask" more clearly! I specifically was curious what the best books the people on HN read and was trying to get at the impact of a book on the person more so than just wanting a list of 10 frequently recommended books on programming according to Perplexity's summary of HN. Experimenting with AI is great, but in this case was looking for a more human and individualistic perspective.

by swah 2y ago

muzani 2y ago

This sounds like a hallucination tbh. If you look from the other lists, something like Clean Code is hardly recommended and gets criticized quite a bit. It's not something that stands to the test of time. It's not a bad book, but it's the type of book a good list in 2025 should filter for.

fabianholzer 2y ago
I assume the "Perplexity" refers to the LLM that generated the list? As far as I can tell, none of the listed books are hallucinated though. But I completey agree with your take on Martins Clean Code book.
- muzani 2y ago
  I mean it's not actually summarizing the threads. It's glancing over and then giving itd own personal opinion.
nadis 2y ago
I tend to agree -- it's hard to say without looking at the data more closely but the list is a little outside the scope and intent of my question. It's also possible I could've asked my "ask" more clearly! I specifically was curious what the best books the people on HN read and was trying to get at the impact of a book on the person more so than just wanting a list of 10 frequently recommended books on programming according to Perplexity's summary of HN. Experimenting with AI is great, but in this case was looking for a more human and individualistic perspective.