Ask HN: Reading material on how to be a better software engineer?

Post by mooreds » Sun, Dec 04, 2022, 9:50 PM UTC

hardwaregeek wrote: post #45

I’m currently reading Peopleware which is simultaneously very insightful and very obvious. It’s also a bit of a marker in time of how software development worked. I’d say a lot has improved with remote work, at least for some companies. I found The Mom Test pretty helpful for honing a product mindset. I’ve fallen into the trap of writing code simply because I find it less daunting than talking to users. The Mom Test…

Post by mooreds » Sun, Dec 04, 2022, 9:55 PM UTC

ilaksh wrote: post #48

My suggestion is that besides reading books, you could try to build a startup. It could just be consulting on your own (or with ChatGPT or Fiverr/freelancing sites as your team). Then you will gain direct experience in a lot of those things. Also here are a few ideas for managing scope, deliverables, expectations, time management. Structure things financially so that they are tied to relatively short iterations that…

Post by bilsbie » Sun, Dec 04, 2022, 9:59 PM UTC

mooreds wrote: post #82

bilsbie wrote: post #79

Anyone know if the old Joel on software essays are still around? Are they still relevant?

I think they are (I put them in my response :) ). I still think about this one periodically: https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2000/05/12/strategy-letter-i-... I didn't see all the letters outlined in any location, so why not here: https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2000/05/12/strategy-letter-i-... https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2000/05/24/strategy-letter-ii... https://www.joelonsoftware.com/2000/06/03/strategy-letter-ii...…

Post by marvin » Sun, Dec 04, 2022, 10:07 PM UTC

KunafaPizza wrote: post #70

pkoird wrote: post #65

So I asked this same question to ChatGPT, here's its response. This thing really does have the potential to be a good recommendation tool for books/resources. "Here are a few books that may be helpful for improving your skills as a software engineer: "The Pragmatic Programmer" by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas: This book offers practical advice on a wide range of topics, including how to write clean and maintainable co…

This answer scares me. Wow

Post by tester756 » Sun, Dec 04, 2022, 10:37 PM UTC

teddyh wrote: post #69

cokeandpepsi wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Robert C. Martin has ruined so many mid organizations it's kind of funny

If you want your criticism to be taken seriously, please be specific. There is apparently a large group of people who hate everything he does and also, seemingly, him personally. Everywhere he (or any of his books) is mentioned, the haters come out, with their vague “it’s all bad” and the old standard “I don’t know where to begin”. Serious criticism can be found (if you look for it), and he himself welcomes it, but t…