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This begs the question, which textbooks do include or at least address real-world code? The closest I can recall are those with heavy emphasis on refactoring,

This begs the question, which textbooks do include or at least address real-world code? The closest I can recall are those with heavy emphasis on refactoring, because gradually moving from bad to good is usually the best one can hope for in the real world. I'm thinking in particular of Bob Martin's Agile Software Development, because I liked how he made the point in the book that he didn't just arrive at this beautiful code, but achieved it through TDD and refactoring. I think "bad code" is actually what the most talented developers excel at (see also Duct Tape Programming http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2009/09/23.html http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2009/09/23.html). A talented programmer knows when it's worthwhile breaking the rules and, by necessity of getting things done, does so on a frequent basis.

InclinedPlane 14y ago
Well, this brings up another problem. And that is that software development is not applied computer science. There are plenty of books which will teach you skills on dealing with real-world code (Refactoring and Working Effectively With Legacy Code being two of the biggies) and there are books that will teach you about other important aspects of development processes (such as Code Complete, Rapid Development, Design Patterns, The Pragmatic Programmer, etc. although those books are showing their age a bit these days) but none of those would be considered computer science textbooks.
- mmahemoff 14y ago
  True, though I don't think this article is really talking about pure CompSci. That would be about as relevant to Register's audience as books on physics.
TeeDub 14y ago
InclinedPlane mentioned "Working Effectively with Legacy Code," and I'd just like to add that's one of the greatest software engineering books out there. Feathers (the author) methodologically chose to copy / inspire some of his examples from code he's worked with as a mentor / developer (some of it from his time @ Thought Works w/ Beck, et al.) The book is similar to Fowler's Refactoring in that it provides some core thought processes / ideology and then a long list of heuristics and techniques for revising/updating legacy code. (I find his definition of "legacy code" as any software without automated testing to be challenging and insightful, especially since it indicts most code written ever. ;) If you get the chance, you could also consider reading "Clean Code", it doesn't have /as much/ "real world" source but is still excellent.

InclinedPlane 14y ago

Well, this brings up another problem. And that is that software development is not applied computer science. There are plenty of books which will teach you skills on dealing with real-world code (Refactoring and Working Effectively With Legacy Code being two of the biggies) and there are books that will teach you about other important aspects of development processes (such as Code Complete, Rapid Development, Design Patterns, The Pragmatic Programmer, etc. although those books are showing their age a bit these days) but none of those would be considered computer science textbooks.

mmahemoff 14y ago
True, though I don't think this article is really talking about pure CompSci. That would be about as relevant to Register's audience as books on physics.

TeeDub 14y ago

InclinedPlane mentioned "Working Effectively with Legacy Code," and I'd just like to add that's one of the greatest software engineering books out there. Feathers (the author) methodologically chose to copy / inspire some of his examples from code he's worked with as a mentor / developer (some of it from his time @ Thought Works w/ Beck, et al.) The book is similar to Fowler's Refactoring in that it provides some core thought processes / ideology and then a long list of heuristics and techniques for revising/updating legacy code. (I find his definition of "legacy code" as any software without automated testing to be challenging and insightful, especially since it indicts most code written ever. ;) If you get the chance, you could also consider reading "Clean Code", it doesn't have /as much/ "real world" source but is still excellent.