Have you read these?

realJSOP

The only book I've really read is Writing Solid Code, back in the days when I was writing unmanaged C++.

".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997

R Giskard Reventlov

Read them years ago along with others like Mythical Man Month[^] and at least the first book by C. J. Date[^] in the list.

"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair. nils illegitimus carborundum me, me, me

Mark_Wallace

Mark Nischalke wrote:

Perhaps CP could add a recommended reading list with rankings

Others have tried and failed. The books that get the highest rankings are almost always the ones used for university courses, most of which are unreadable and useless, without having the lecturer to explain it all properly. The best knowledge resources are help files and CP (and maybe a bit of judicious Googling); books are only really needed when moving to new fields, and are soon discarded in favour of help files and CP (and maybe a bit of judicious Googling).

I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

realJSOP

Mark Wallace wrote:

and maybe a bit of judicious Googling

Googling of *any* kind is only really exercised by people that have the drive and determination to actually find the answer and discover new ideas rather than waiting to be spoon-fed by others who can only make wild-assed guesses due to the low quality and lack of applicable information and/or requirements in the posted question. I'm not bitter. Not me...

".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
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You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
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"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997

Ennis Ray Lynch Jr

Having read Design Patterns by the GOF I will have to say that it is not essential to our profession and has probably done more harm than good.

Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost

Mark_Wallace

Your Christmas gift to your blood pressure should have been staying away from Q&A for a few days.

I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

Not Active

I agree. I usually go through a book or two on a new subject to learn it then if I need to follow-up I'll browse the bookshop to read a chapter or two as necessary. My Nook Color is very nice for this sort of thing. Free wifi in the stores and the ability to read books free for an hour a day. :-D

I know the language. I've read a book. - _Madmatt

Not Active

Interesting view. Care to elaborate on why?

I know the language. I've read a book. - _Madmatt

Lost User

I've read Code Complete by Steve McConnell, essential reading for real world projects. In fact, I give a copy to my intern each year.

Join the cool kids - Come fold with us[^]

Nemanja Trifunovic

Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:

and has probably done more harm than good.

That. The only value I see in design patterns is some standardization in terminology. The patterns themselves are in best cases merely description of existing practices and in worst cases a wrong way to solve problems. And don't get me started on the C++ code samples in that book - this is exactly how C++ should never be written.

utf8-cpp

Ennis Ray Lynch Jr

Any developer with any profound experience will immediately recognize most of their book to be putting names to concepts they have been using for years. Any other developer will read the book and think, wow, I should be doing this and then rather than apply critical thinking he or she will blindly apply patterns even if they are inappropriate ... including the copy-paste pattern. Managers will read the book, mandate patterns for everything, fire the Architect for suggesting that sometimes a pattern is not right for the job, hire 3 Indians to replace him who only say yes, get promoted for lowering payroll and then not be responsible for the project's failure. Ironically, what I have written happens so much it should have a pattern named after it.

Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost

Vark111

>> Ironically, what I have written happens so much it should have a pattern named after it. I propose Outsourcing Abstract Factory. OAF.

Not Active

Ennis Ray Lynch, Jr. wrote:

rather than apply critical thinking he or she will blindly apply patterns even if they are inappropriate

Is this fault of the book or its authors though? This can be said for just about anything. VB allowed low caliber developers to think they were good. There are great books on database normalization but when it is taken to extremes in can decrease performance. The trick is to understand the concepts and know when, and when not, to use them. Don't shoot the messenger.

I know the language. I've read a book. - _Madmatt

Vark111

I've read the Requirements book. Haven't read McConnell's Pro Software Development. Is it much different from Code Complete (which I have read - and recommend)?

Not Active

I don't know whether to laugh at the ridiculousness of this statement or cry at what is happening to our industry that produces such thoughts

I know the language. I've read a book. - _Madmatt

Not Active

Trollslayer wrote:

I give a copy to my intern each year

Doesn't your intern get tired of receiving the same book every year. ;P

I know the language. I've read a book. - _Madmatt

Nemanja Trifunovic

Mark Nischalke wrote:

which do you recommend as essential guidance for our profession?

Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs[^] Writing Solid Code[^] (old, but still very relevant) Code Complete[^] Writing Secure Code[^] The Art of Computer Programming[^] (as a reference) Advanced Windows Debugging[^] (of course, only for Windows developers). Elements of Programming[^] There are many other good books that are language/technology specific, so I won't mention them here.

utf8-cpp

Not Active

It is more about the development of the software developer them-self rather than the code they produce.

I know the language. I've read a book. - _Madmatt

modified on Thursday, December 30, 2010 10:31 AM

Ennis Ray Lynch Jr

It doesn't matter whose fault it is, the premise in the original post was that the book benefits our profession. It does not. Although, I have not read it, "The Mythical Man-Month" has been almost universally praised as being a benefit to our profession.

Need custom software developed? I do custom programming based primarily on MS tools with an emphasis on C# development and consulting. I also do Android Programming as I find it a refreshing break from the MS. "And they, since they Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs" -- Robert Frost

Ravi Sant

I haven't heard, seen or read any of two books. But, one book, i would recommend developers is: » The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master It is a wonderful book :) Also, i like to read several books on design patterns and uml, beside this.