Ask HN: What are good books/blogs to read for a first time CTO?

If it's just a "planning my first startup" stage and not an existing enterprise of some non-zero size, I'd suggest starting from the book "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries and other general "startup mentality" information sources. For a tech-minded CTO, it's especially important to have that correct "startup mentality" to avoid big mistakes from the start.

Re: Ask HN: What are good books/blogs to read for a first time CTO?

#5

Post by Omroth » Fri, Dec 29, 2023, 9:53 AM UTC

The Meta Cast (Bob & Josh) is very useful for getting an insight into team management.

Re: Ask HN: What are good books/blogs to read for a first time CTO?

#6

Post by sergioisidoro » Fri, Dec 29, 2023, 9:55 AM UTC

An Elegant Puzzle: Systems of Engineering Management, by Will Larson

Re: Ask HN: What are good books/blogs to read for a first time CTO?

#7

Post by emmanueloga_ » Fri, Dec 29, 2023, 9:57 AM UTC

I’m reading the O’Reilly book on terraform. The end appendix has a great list of books to read for a CTO. Also planning to check the author other book, “Hello, startup” (see [1]).

1: https://www.ybrikman.com

Re: Ask HN: What are good books/blogs to read for a first time CTO?

#8

Post by eddyzh » Fri, Dec 29, 2023, 9:57 AM UTC

It's old but a mythical man month is where dev management books realy started.

Re: Ask HN: What are good books/blogs to read for a first time CTO?

#9

Post by wslh » Fri, Dec 29, 2023, 9:59 AM UTC

Assumming you have worked as software engineer I recommend to talk with other CTOs, product people, and/or senior engineers (peer groups) and have concrete problems you would like to solve in mind.

What kind of startup you want to build and in what field? Knowing more details about the challenges you will face help to narrow the focus to specific knowledge and skills.

Re: Ask HN: What are good books/blogs to read for a first time CTO?

#10

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Dec 29, 2023, 10:05 AM UTC

[deleted]