Understanding Python's data model helped me become a better software engineer.
I'd recommend watching this PyData talk (James Powell: So you want to be a Python expert? | PyData Seattle 2017 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKPlPJyQrt4) and then using the official doc as a reference which is also fun to read: https://docs.python.org/3/reference/datamodel.html
Ask HN: Reading list for being a better engineer?
11–18 of 18 posts
Re: Ask HN: Reading list for being a better engineer?
#12I want to reiterate the points other have brought up.
Learn more about whatever domain you are writing software for, then ask what skills you need to improve to solve a problem in that domain.
Also do not get hung up on specific languages or paradigms, the overarching patterns are universal and learning them makes things significantly easier to implement.
Finally the most generic advice, Algorithms and Data structures. When you start thinking in terms of "This is the data in memory" and "This is the algorithm manipulating the data" you will "level up" quickly. Software isn't cats and dogs and random objects. Thinking in objects can be a decent way to model systems but when you get into the details you are operating on instructions and data not on objects.
Re: Ask HN: Reading list for being a better engineer?
#13Computer architecture a quantitative approach by Patterson and hennessy
It’s the real life exchange rate for algorithms and data structures. Basically understanding your infrastructure and its performance characteristics will help you design simpler ( and therefore better )systems
Re: Ask HN: Reading list for being a better engineer?
#141) C++ concurrency in action
2) Tannenabum Networking and OSes
3) Get your domain and build something
Re: Ask HN: Reading list for being a better engineer?
#15You might find the reading list on my blog interesting, though it's more about long form articles than books.
Re: Ask HN: Reading list for being a better engineer?
#16I'd say anything that inspires you to move to a career that focuses on engineering, that you cannot get away by being half-ass, is a good book.
I recommend two books, none of them is technical. "Showstopper! The Breakneck Race to Create Windows NT and the Next Generation at Microsoft" and "The soul of a new machine".
Once you put yourself at the edge of knife, everything you want comes naturally, because you either swim or die.
Re: Ask HN: Reading list for being a better engineer?
#17Reading? Doubt it. Seems like you already did a lot of reading. The Ousterhout book is very good and rather small but implementing is the thing that will improve your skills.
You can either find OS tools and try to work through tickets, etc (great for resume as well) or do your own thing.
Re: Ask HN: Reading list for being a better engineer?
#18Don't read. Do. That's how you become better. If you get stuck, research the specific problem and move on. For example, I have just recently ventured into desktop programs. I am currently making a text editor/IDE. Right now, I am in the process of writing a layout library which to a rendering engine is essentially what HTML DOM is to a web browser. I am learning a lot of new thing along the way. It's not like I went and read about it. I just do it.