The Book That Every Programmer Should Read • Hacker News Board

Re: The Book That Every Programmer Should Read

#71

Post by not_clear » Tue, Nov 01, 2011, 2:38 AM UTC

kabdib wrote: post #34

felipernb wrote: post #16

The book every programmer should read is Programming Pearls, isn't it? :-)

I wish there was a modern version of _Software Tools_ -- the Pascal version is dated, and the RATFOR version might as well be on stone tablets. (I'm guessing some recent Unix-programming-environment books cover a lot of the stuff in _ST_, but I haven't read 'em).

Way back in the early nineties, when I was in college, I went to go visit my friend at his school. He had class, so I went to the library to kill a few hours. I dug through the (rather ancient) CS section, and pulled some books to read. Two have stuck with me:

One was __The Mythical Man-Month__ (the old one, not any of the reissues). That put into words so many things that I felt about computer programming, if nothing else the humanness of programming as a pursuit.

The second was __Software Tools__. Even then, whichever version I encountered was ancient (I was learning C in school). It didn't impact me quite as much as TMMM (which I think i read most of in the library), but it was enough for me to remember and pick up a used copy a few years back.

I still haven't read it, so I'm glad you reminded me about it.

As far as a modern book, the one that seems closest to me is __The Practice of Programming__.

Re: The Book That Every Programmer Should Read

#72

Post by ama » Fri, Nov 04, 2011, 9:38 AM UTC

eru wrote: post #69

xyzzyz wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is what you're likely to get if you do not drop out, and go to a good school. Lots of smart people tend to get together in academia.

Yes, but it's not the only way. There are other ways to find smart people. But they may require more work.

yes, and where does one find that type of friends :/

Re: The Book That Every Programmer Should Read

#73

Post by eru » Fri, Nov 04, 2011, 8:06 PM UTC

ama wrote: post #72

eru wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but it's not the only way. There are other ways to find smart people. But they may require more work.

yes, and where does one find that type of friends :/

The easiest way is probably through a hobby, in the widest sense. Be it a Science Fiction club, a HN meetup, a charity that helps connect disadvantaged high school kids with technology and programming, toastmasters international or some political activism. Basically any thing that involves meeting other people, and, as a filter, requires a certain minimum level of commitment and getting-off-your-ass.

If you are in Germany or Britain, I can give you more concrete pointers.