Programming books.
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How many programming books do you read? Ten a year? One a month? How do you read them? How well do you comprehend what you read in them? How much do you remember when you read them? What is your style of reading them? What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts? Take notes? Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
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How many programming books do you read? Ten a year? One a month? How do you read them? How well do you comprehend what you read in them? How much do you remember when you read them? What is your style of reading them? What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts? Take notes? Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
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Probably about one a month I read them mostly in bed, or in airports, if I'm travelling. I expect to learn enough to know broadly what's possible with a technology, and enough to know where to look if I need more specifics.
Captain See Sharp wrote:
What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts?
Some sort of performance enhancing drug, I suppose. Realistically, you learn more from programming, books give you a leg up when you're stuck, and a reference for stuff you forget. I never thought I'd know as much about MFC as I eventually did, but I learned it a bit at a time, and I learned the bits I used, not the bits I read about.
Captain See Sharp wrote:
Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
Code Complete, 2nd Edition.
Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++ Metal Musings - Rex and my new metal blog
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How many programming books do you read? Ten a year? One a month? How do you read them? How well do you comprehend what you read in them? How much do you remember when you read them? What is your style of reading them? What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts? Take notes? Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
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Captain See Sharp wrote:
How many programming books do you read?
I usually read one or two a year, mostly I just use them as reference.
Captain See Sharp wrote:
What is your style of reading them?
I usually practice the code samples in the book as I'm reading them.
Captain See Sharp wrote:
Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
Any Microsoft Core Reference books are good!
Trinity: Neo... nobody has ever done this before. Neo: That's why it's going to work.
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How many programming books do you read? Ten a year? One a month? How do you read them? How well do you comprehend what you read in them? How much do you remember when you read them? What is your style of reading them? What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts? Take notes? Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
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How many programming books do you read? Ten a year? One a month? How do you read them? How well do you comprehend what you read in them? How much do you remember when you read them? What is your style of reading them? What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts? Take notes? Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
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Sad to say, but the last programming book I purchased and read was Professional C# which came out while .NET was in beta. The rest of my study is all online.
Rocky <>< Latest Code Blog Post: SQL Server Express Warnings & Tips Latest Tech Blog Post: Microsoft doing it again!
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How many programming books do you read? Ten a year? One a month? How do you read them? How well do you comprehend what you read in them? How much do you remember when you read them? What is your style of reading them? What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts? Take notes? Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
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Only 3 or 4 a year, read on the train or in other quiet times. I find turtorials and actually doing stuff better to remember and understand a language or aspect of the more general software engineering task. I find books are very useful to broaden my understaning . They help me develop standards and ways of doing things often pop-up later from stuff that sinks in, unbeknownst while reading a book. Couple of recent favourites as I have been returning to C++ after an extended sojourn in C# are; C++ Coding Standards - Sutter & Alexandrescu and C++ Common Knowledge - Dewhurst.
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How many programming books do you read? Ten a year? One a month? How do you read them? How well do you comprehend what you read in them? How much do you remember when you read them? What is your style of reading them? What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts? Take notes? Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
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I often buy books, not planned though. And about reading , I dont make any schedule for it. I always keep the books within my reach. (Seriously I never let the books take rest in the rack. It's all grounded!)I read everyday, because I forget it after everyweek end :-D. lol. But many times I've found myself reading the same over and over. The reason might be, the particular section would be interesting or I did not get it properly when I read it last time. Few days before I tried to make notes of what I read. But it looks so clumsy because in a single notebook I'm writing too many topics leaving few pages for one then starting another. Should find a better way. Sometimes I find just underlining directly on the pages would be simpler and easier. It also gives you a phsychological advantage when you browse through the pages giving you an "expored! region" effect :)
Code-Frog:So if this is Pumpkinhead. Time for him to run and hide. It's an interesting thought really.
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How many programming books do you read? Ten a year? One a month? How do you read them? How well do you comprehend what you read in them? How much do you remember when you read them? What is your style of reading them? What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts? Take notes? Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
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I read about 5 in a year currently, it's not much but enough for now to keep me at least a little up to date. I read them mostly while traveling or in the evening after I had dinner and have everything cleaned up. I can describe my style of reading as chaotic, I first browse through the table of contents in search of stuff that I recognize or find interesting. Those are the first things I read in the book. After I'm done reading the things I found most interesting I read the rest of the book. I don't think this saves time, but it keeps things interesting for me :)
WM. What about weapons of mass-construction? "You can always try to smash it with a wrench to fix that. It might actually work" - WillemM
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How many programming books do you read? Ten a year? One a month? How do you read them? How well do you comprehend what you read in them? How much do you remember when you read them? What is your style of reading them? What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts? Take notes? Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
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Captain See Sharp wrote:
Ten a year? One a month?
Not much of a spectrum we have here :) rarely, I must admit. it amounts to about two a year, plus some random reading in the existing ones. Most of my letter stealing I do on the net.
Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers, Velopers, Develprs, Developers!
We are a big screwed up dysfunctional psychotic happy family - some more screwed up, others more happy, but everybody's psychotic joint venture definition of CP
Linkify!|Fold With Us! -
Captain See Sharp wrote:
Ten a year? One a month?
Not much of a spectrum we have here :) rarely, I must admit. it amounts to about two a year, plus some random reading in the existing ones. Most of my letter stealing I do on the net.
Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers, Developers, Velopers, Develprs, Developers!
We are a big screwed up dysfunctional psychotic happy family - some more screwed up, others more happy, but everybody's psychotic joint venture definition of CP
Linkify!|Fold With Us! -
How many programming books do you read? Ten a year? One a month? How do you read them? How well do you comprehend what you read in them? How much do you remember when you read them? What is your style of reading them? What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts? Take notes? Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
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The way I see it, everyone has gaps in their understanding and knowledge, and reading more books closes those gaps. I feel bad if I've gone a while without reading a good book. I'm usually a couple books behind in my reading, as I always have a couple books at home that I've been 'working towards' starting. Other times, I find on that I have to put away for a while, (Abrahams & Gurtovoy) until I have the right background to get through it. For me, it's not about having the edge, it's about wanting to understand and fill in the gaps. Of course, I do realize it does take away from productivity, but I have to remember that it increases productivity in the long run.
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How many programming books do you read? Ten a year? One a month? How do you read them? How well do you comprehend what you read in them? How much do you remember when you read them? What is your style of reading them? What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts? Take notes? Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
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I use books to kick start new endevors. If I pick up a new tool like SQL Server 2005 I pick up a couple of books to get me started. No point in reinventing the wheel. Right now I like Windows Forms 2.0, Data Binding with Windows Forms 2.0, Hitchhikers Guide to Visual Studio amd SQL Server, and Pro VS 2005 Reporting Using SQL Server and Crystal Reports.
Len
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How many programming books do you read? Ten a year? One a month? How do you read them? How well do you comprehend what you read in them? How much do you remember when you read them? What is your style of reading them? What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts? Take notes? Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
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It varies because my work profile varies. Just got "Code Complete", highly reccomended!
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It varies because my work profile varies. Just got "Code Complete", highly reccomended!
I use most tech books as reference, i.e. flip to the chapter about the xyz technology that I'm working on today, put the book on the shelf. And then there's Code Complete. Read it in the early 90s, and my coding style is still influenced by what I read. McConnell rocks. :-D
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalStrategyConsulting.com
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How many programming books do you read? Ten a year? One a month? How do you read them? How well do you comprehend what you read in them? How much do you remember when you read them? What is your style of reading them? What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts? Take notes? Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
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Captain See Sharp wrote:
How many programming books do you read?
As many as necessary to expand my knowledge to complete a current project with code that is low in complexity, and high on maintainability.
Captain See Sharp wrote:
How do you read them?
Usually, from front to back, and then I maintain them as a reference.
Captain See Sharp wrote:
How well do you comprehend what you read in them? How much do you remember when you read them
I find that I only truely comprehend stuff if I am actually using it. In fact, I only buy books that "teach" by steping through a concept as it evoles showing me the pitfalls as I would normally discover them in development. Show me a solution (that I might have thought of) and then show me its shortfalls and how to fix them with the next bit of knowledge. Then I can retain it, and have a deeper understanding of why you do something. I never code something unless I understand deeply why I am doing it from a design and language point of view.
Captain See Sharp wrote:
What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts?
I would recommend you actually work through examples as above, and make sure you can always state in your own words why you are doing something.
Captain See Sharp wrote:
Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
Well, this would depend on the language. If you are learning C++, then I would recommend: Code Complete 2nd Ed. C++ Primer Plus Head First Design Patterns Design Patterns (by Gang of Four) Algorithms in C++ (All of them) STL Tutorial and Reference Guide Effective STL and while the Head First Design Patterns book gives examples in Java, I would highly recommend that you translate and compile each into your own C++ version to maximize the learning you get out of it.
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Probably about one a month I read them mostly in bed, or in airports, if I'm travelling. I expect to learn enough to know broadly what's possible with a technology, and enough to know where to look if I need more specifics.
Captain See Sharp wrote:
What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts?
Some sort of performance enhancing drug, I suppose. Realistically, you learn more from programming, books give you a leg up when you're stuck, and a reference for stuff you forget. I never thought I'd know as much about MFC as I eventually did, but I learned it a bit at a time, and I learned the bits I used, not the bits I read about.
Captain See Sharp wrote:
Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
Code Complete, 2nd Edition.
Christian Graus - Microsoft MVP - C++ Metal Musings - Rex and my new metal blog
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How many programming books do you read? Ten a year? One a month? How do you read them? How well do you comprehend what you read in them? How much do you remember when you read them? What is your style of reading them? What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts? Take notes? Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
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I use most tech books as reference, i.e. flip to the chapter about the xyz technology that I'm working on today, put the book on the shelf. And then there's Code Complete. Read it in the early 90s, and my coding style is still influenced by what I read. McConnell rocks. :-D
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalStrategyConsulting.com
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Captain See Sharp wrote:
How many programming books do you read?
As many as necessary to expand my knowledge to complete a current project with code that is low in complexity, and high on maintainability.
Captain See Sharp wrote:
How do you read them?
Usually, from front to back, and then I maintain them as a reference.
Captain See Sharp wrote:
How well do you comprehend what you read in them? How much do you remember when you read them
I find that I only truely comprehend stuff if I am actually using it. In fact, I only buy books that "teach" by steping through a concept as it evoles showing me the pitfalls as I would normally discover them in development. Show me a solution (that I might have thought of) and then show me its shortfalls and how to fix them with the next bit of knowledge. Then I can retain it, and have a deeper understanding of why you do something. I never code something unless I understand deeply why I am doing it from a design and language point of view.
Captain See Sharp wrote:
What do you recommend to someone who wants to remember and understand most of the material in the texts?
I would recommend you actually work through examples as above, and make sure you can always state in your own words why you are doing something.
Captain See Sharp wrote:
Also what is your favorite of all programming books and what book would you highly recommend to someone who already knows the language he/she programs in?
Well, this would depend on the language. If you are learning C++, then I would recommend: Code Complete 2nd Ed. C++ Primer Plus Head First Design Patterns Design Patterns (by Gang of Four) Algorithms in C++ (All of them) STL Tutorial and Reference Guide Effective STL and while the Head First Design Patterns book gives examples in Java, I would highly recommend that you translate and compile each into your own C++ version to maximize the learning you get out of it.
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Yes, that book is/was great. I was a little disappointed at CC2. It was basically a rewrite on the original.
Haven't read the second edition, but as an author myself I can certainly appreciate the difficulty in any second edition. Publishers want new editions so that they can re-release it, but when we write books, we often say everything that we really had to say in the 1st ed. I recently did the 2nd ed for Career Programmer and decided to leave the original chapters as is, since they said what I wanted to say. Instead, I took the approach of appending half a dozen new chapters on career related issues that had arisen since after the 1st ed (dot com crash, global outsourcing, US economic difficulties and how they affect our profession, etc.). If there hadn't been enough for me to say to justify a new section of the book, I would have simply declined the 2nd edition. So, as an author, it's a tough gig. I'd much rather just write a new book. It's also worth noting that the author doesn't always have the complete say in how the new edition is approached. It may well be that the publisher dictated a rehash of the previous ed. I've just been lucky to work with the Apress folks, as they're very supportive of my rather unconentional approach. In any event, I don't know if it's worth having both editions of Code Complete on your desk or not, but I'm sure new readers will still find him an excellent read!
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalStrategyConsulting.com