Code Complete

pieterr · 2025-06-06 · Original thread

What I found helpful early in my career:

Book: Code Complete - Steve McConnell

https://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Cons...

A bit dated maybe, but still very informative!

bitsofawesome · 2022-12-04 · Original thread

The two most useful books I have read: Code Complete by Steve McConnell - Really covers how to be good at the craft of writing programs and constructing software. https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Microsoft-Programming-Steve-...

The Effective Engineer by Edmond Lau - Covers how to focus on what you work on based on the leverage it provides you. http://www.effectiveengineer.com/

curiousEagle · 2022-02-18 · Original thread

Some examples of "quality engineering practices" would be in my mind:

- Believes most business logic doesn't belong in models/controllers

- Understands the importance of naming things (classes, variables, etc.) well

- Writes tests, even if not fully TDD

- Intelligently applies SOLID engineering principles

^^ this type of thing.

I think the books "Code Complete" [0] and "Practical Object-Oriented Design: An Agile Primer Using Ruby" [1] embody a lot of what I'm looking for, if you're familiar with them.

[0] https://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Cons...

[1] https://www.poodr.com/

Edit: Formatting

maynman · 2020-09-27 · Original thread

Code Complete https://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Cons...

pjmlp · 2020-07-25 · Original thread

Here are some pointers:

"Large-Scale C++ Software Design"

https://www.amazon.com/Large-Scale-Software-Design-John-Lako...

Although oriented towards C++, many architecture tips apply to other languages as well.

John Lakos is in the process of writing updated versions of the book.

"Large-Scale C++ Volume I: Process and Architecture"

https://www.amazon.com/Large-Scale-Architecture-Addison-Wesl...

"Large-Scale C++ Volume II: Design and Implementation"

https://www.amazon.com/Large-Scale-Implementation-Addison-We...

Then going back into the old days, you have

"Software Engineering in Modula 2: An Object Oriented Approach"

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Jill-Hewitt/dp/0333515188

"Data Structures and Program Design in Modula-2"

https://www.amazon.de/Larry-R-Nyhoff/dp/0023886218/ref=sr_1_...

"Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction"

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0735619670/ref=sr_1_1

"AntiPatterns: Refactoring Software, Architectures, and Projects in Crisis"

https://www.amazon.com/AntiPatterns-William-J-Brown/dp/04711...

"Component Software: Beyond Object-Oriented Programming"

https://www.amazon.com/Component-Software-Object-Oriented-Pr...

"Use Cases Combined With Booch/Omt/Uml: Process and Products"

https://www.amazon.com/Use-Cases-Combined-Booch-Omt/dp/01372...

Just some pointers to get you started.

erokar · 2019-11-16 · Original thread

While there is certainly something to be said for simplicity in a language, I think Go is too extreme in this regard. What it gains in simplicity it looses in expressiveness. This leads to more lines of code per feature, and bugs in software has been shown to be a function of LoCs [1,2,3].

One example of Go's lack of expressiveness is that loops are not abstracted away, e.g. you can't use higher level constructs like map and filter on collections. There are other languages that IMO strikes a better balance between simplicity and expressiveness, like Python and Elixir.

1. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/1702967

2. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4471-3003-1_...

3. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735619670/ (Chapter "Developer Testing")

au750 · 2019-09-09 · Original thread

Hi,

If you want to be a generalist, you may want to learn things which are useful independently of the programming language.

Some books that would qualify in my opinion (as examples):

- Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction, Second Edition by Steve McConnell

https://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Cons...

- Facts and Fallacies of Software Engineering by Robert L. Glass

https://www.amazon.com/Facts-Fallacies-Software-Engineering-...

Learning the different approches taken by multiple programming languages is certainly useful. It may not be that much relevant which language it is unless you want a job specifically in that language.

I can't speak for Google but I guess it is more relevant how familiar you are with software development practices and general knowledge about architecture, design, testing, algorithms to name a few than a specific language.

maynman · 2019-01-12 · Original thread

Speaking from a software engineering perspective, here are a few that I found really valuable. I've seen them recommended by people I respect on many occasions.

Code Complete by Steve McConnell https://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Cons...

The Mythical Man Month by Frederick Brooks https://www.amazon.com/Mythical-Man-Month-Software-Engineeri...

scarface74 · 2018-12-31 · Original thread

(None of these are affiliate links)

https://www.amazon.com/Domain-Driven-Design-Tackling-Complex...

https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Code-Handbook-Software-Craftsma...

https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Architecture-Craftsmans-Softwar...

https://www.amazon.com/Patterns-Enterprise-Application-Archi...

https://www.amazon.com/Refactoring-Improving-Existing-Addiso...

https://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Cons...

https://www.amazon.com/Pragmatic-Programmer-Journeyman-Maste...

https://www.amazon.com/Mythical-Man-Month-Software-Engineeri...

And just because it’s asked at every interview.

https://www.amazon.com/Design-Patterns-Object-Oriented-Addis...

I’m focused on AWS these days, but a lot of these principals are universal.

https://d1.awsstatic.com/whitepapers/architecture/AWS_Well-A...

ToFab123 · 2018-12-23 · Original thread

You could refresh your memories from the time before you started to complicate stuff by reading (or rereading) the marvelous book "code complete"

https://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Cons...

fdsvnsmvas · 2018-09-10 · Original thread

Thanks everyone, the comments are much appreciated. Here's a list of books and other media resources recommended so far in the thread:

Robert C. Martin, Clean code: https://www.amazon.com/Clean-Code-Handbook-Software-Craftsma...

Vaughn Vernon, various: https://vaughnvernon.co/?page_id=168

Steve McConnell, Code Complete: https://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Cons... 2

Clean coder: https://cleancoders.com/ videos

Hunt and Thomas, The Pragmatic Programmer: https://www.amazon.com/Pragmatic-Programmer-Journeyman-Maste...

Hitchhiker's Guide to Python: https://docs.python-guide.org/

Dustin Boswell The Art of Readable Code: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Readable-Code-Practical-Technique...

John Ousterhout, A Philosophy of Software Design: https://www.amazon.com/Philosophy-Software-Design-John-Ouste... This one looks particularly interesting, thanks AlexCoventry!

Kent Beck, Test Driven Development: https://www.amazon.com/Test-Driven-Development-Kent-Beck/dp/...

Dan Bader, Python Tricks: The Book: https://dbader.org/

Ian Sommerville, Software Engineering: https://www.amazon.com/Software-Engineering-10th-Ian-Sommerv...

Svilen Dobrev, various: http://www.svilendobrev.com/rabota/

weej · 2017-11-01 · Original thread

Recommended resources to consider:

* Code Complete https://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Cons...

* Programming Pearls https://www.amazon.com/Programming-Pearls-2nd-Jon-Bentley/dp...

* Pragmatic Programmer https://www.amazon.com/Pragmatic-Programmer-Journeyman-Maste...

Spearchucker · 2017-06-26 · Original thread

You could do worse than Steve McConnell's Code Complete - https://www.amazon.com/dp/0735619670.

makeset · 2017-06-03 · Original thread

Code Complete by Steve McConnell https://www.amazon.com/dp/0735619670

mooseburger · 2016-06-01 · Original thread

I used to begrudgingly practice martial arts. Computer programming is not like martial arts, at all. What you want to do sounds like the software craftsmanship approach:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_craftsmanship

Maybe look up more regarding that? I'm pretty skeptic about it...

IMO, the 'core programming concepts' (as in, skills that transcend language) most important to me, are those related to producing readable, maintainable code. Keeping your functions short, pure, and with one responsibility. Naming everything clearly. Making sure you are obeying DRY and KISS. Perhaps you would enjoy reading Code Complete:

https://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Cons...

scrumper · 2015-12-11 · Original thread

My favorite general guidebook for writing good, readable, maintainable, defensive code is "Code Complete": http://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Const...

It isn't domain specific but there is so much good advice in there around variable naming, code structure, general principles of bug-resistant coding that you will get a tremendous amount from it.

officialchicken · 2015-05-15 · Original thread

If I only had one suggestion it would be: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mythical_Man-Month

That book should be required reading for anyone on either side of the commonly asked question, "How do we build this?"

Maybe a second - it's a bit old (and almost 1000 pages) - but much of McConnell's CodeComplete2 still applies and has lots of great insights for software PM's: http://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Const...

[edit grammer]

brudgers · 2015-02-27 · Original thread

The book is Code Complete.

http://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Const...

logfromblammo · 2015-01-13 · Original thread

A selection of meditation resources for hackers:

OpenEEG (http://openeeg.sourceforge.net/doc/)

OpenSensors (http://sourceforge.net/p/opensensors/home/Home/)

Brain Refactoring (http://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Const...)

codyb · 2015-01-05 · Original thread

As well as the extensively reviewed, recommended, and appraised "Code Complete" [0] by Steve McConnell

I'm working my way through it now (1+ year of professional experience) and it is a magnificent way to improve the quality of your code. I read it off and on, my goal is only 40 pages a week so that I'll make sure to find the time to do it (I'm doing a masters program and enjoy living in NYC too so setting huge goals doesn't work well for me).

Every time I crack it open, I find myself inspired to write better, clearer, and more concise code. Sometimes you just need a nudge to get back into doing things you already know you should be doing.

Finally, constantly learning, I think, is the best way to become a proficient, and then skillful professional software engineer. Many programmers become proficient and then level off. And that's good enough. But if you truly wanted to become one of the top 5% in your field you need to do something called deliberate practice. Reading 'Talent is Overrated' [1] really exposed me to the theory of constantly challenging yourself in order to grow. I really recommend it, I find myself trying to apply the theories to all areas of my life.

[0] - http://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Const...

[1] - http://www.amazon.com/Talent-Overrated-Separates-World-Class...

smanatstpete · 2014-11-06 · Original thread

Try having your team read these books:

http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Solid-Code-Microsoft-Programmi...

http://www.amazon.com/Practice-Programming-Addison-Wesley-Pr...

http://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Const...

I know these are old books and are C and C++ oriented, but it helped me a lot during my formative years and helped me transition from being a decent programmer to being a decent engineer. They are short books which are well written and not very dense.

joezydeco · 2014-11-06 · Original thread

Steve McConnell's Code Complete might be a good resource. Could you buy a copy for each team member and take an hour each week to read and discuss a chapter? That might get you on the road to better coding practices.

http://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Const...

brudgers · 2014-08-20 · Original thread

Code Complete: A Practical Handbook for Software Construction is considered one of the language agnostic classics on computer programming. It focuses on higher level concepts as they relate to the process and sequence of writing code. It covers just enough architecture and design to provide context and allow one to think intelligently about it.

[affiliate link] http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735619670/ref=as_li_tl?ie=...

[non-affiliate link] http://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Const...

doorhammer · 2014-03-04 · Original thread

Code Complete 2 [1] was one of the first coding books I've read. As with anything else, it's good to look around (HN is a good place) for people who have problems with the book. I think I learn as much reading the commentary people make about books like that as I do from the book itself.

I think I've listened to every podcast on software engineering radio a few times [2]. The older ones are especially nice because they usually pick a specific topic and cover the high points. I liked that I could listen to it while I was driving, or otherwise not in front of a computer.

It's specific, but Javascript: The Good Parts is probably the most used book I have on my shelf. It has such a perfect amount of usable information in it. It's pretty great. Again, it's definitely worth looking up critiques and counterpoints.

I've also got Introduction to Algorithms, which I use as a reference, sometimes. I switched over to The Algorithm Design Manual [5] after I saw it referenced in an older Steve Yegge post [6]. I read through the intro and it seemed like a book that would be more appropriate from an autodidactic standpoint. I really have no idea if that's going to pan out, since I'm not that far into it, but we'll see, for sure. Doesn't kill me to have an extra algorithms book laying about, though, and I've always got intro to algorithms for cross reference. I've found that I really need to have as many sources available as possible when I'm learning alone. Usually I don't get something until the fifth person describes it from the tenth different angle.

That's most of what I can think of off hand. I really enjoyed The Joy of Clojure [7], though haven't checked out the newer version. Programming Collective Intelligence [8] is a fun book, and is what made me want to go back down the maths route to get more into machine learning.

And of course habitually reading hacker news for an hour or three every night :)

So that's my totally inexpert list of random stuff that I enjoy

[1] http://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Const... [2] http://www.se-radio.net/ [3] http://www.amazon.com/JavaScript-Good-Parts-Douglas-Crockfor... [4] http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Algorithms-Thomas-H-Corme... [5] http://www.amazon.com/Algorithm-Design-Manual-Steven-Skiena/... [6] http://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/2008/03/get-that-job-at-goog... [7] http://www.amazon.com/Joy-Clojure-Michael-Fogus/dp/161729141... [8] http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Collective-Intelligence-Bu...

joe_the_user · 2014-02-07 · Original thread

When you start your post with "I have a high IQ so programming's easy for me", I indeed believe that working with other people might be a problem for you.

But I would still add that I'm doubtful that someone can work on large projects and not have communicating and working with other people be an actual part of programming (rather than that "other problem", "people").

If your projects need you to produce code that other people will modify, I would claim that your coding is going to be a matter of communication. Perhaps you write one-shot firmware for toasters or missiles so this doesn't apply. But I think any student of programming in general tends to see the task as a process of communication and not just cleverness. On this subject, I'd recommend Steve McConnell's Code complete.

http://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Const...

facorreia · 2012-12-10 · Original thread

I got around this mindset along the years, by learning about the importance of lowering the maintenance costs, improving collaboration and not depending on any single person to understand any given module or system.

Books such as "Code Complete"[1] and "Clean Code"[2] should help you with that transition.

[1] http://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Const...

[2] http://www.amazon.com/Clean-Code-Handbook-Software-Craftsman...

robomartin · 2012-11-27 · Original thread

OK, if you don't have any real experience in low-level embedded coding (relevant to device drivers), RTOS or OS design in general, file systems, data structures, algorithms, interfaces, etc. And, if you have "hobby level" experience with Assembler, C and C++. And, if your intent is to write a desktop OS, from the ground up, without making use of existing technologies, drivers, file systems, memory management, POSIX, etc. Here's a list of books that could be considered required reading before you can really start to write specifications and code. Pick twenty of these and that might be a good start.

In no particular order:

1- http://www.amazon.com/C-Programming-Language-2nd-Edition/dp/...

2- http://www.amazon.com/The-Answer-Book-Solutions-Programming/...

3- http://www.amazon.com/The-Standard-Library-P-J-Plauger/dp/01...

4- http://www.amazon.com/C-Traps-Pitfalls-Andrew-Koenig/dp/0201...

5- http://www.amazon.com/Expert-Programming-Peter-van-Linden/dp...

6- http://www.amazon.com/Data-Structures-In-Noel-Kalicharan/dp/...

7- http://www.amazon.com/Data-Structures-Using-Aaron-Tenenbaum/...

8- http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Algorithms-C-Kyle-Loudon/dp/...

9- http://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Const...

10- http://www.amazon.com/Design-Patterns-Elements-Reusable-Obje...

11- http://www.amazon.com/The-Mythical-Man-Month-Engineering-Ann...

12- http://www.amazon.com/The-Programming-Language-4th-Edition/d...

13- http://www.amazon.com/The-Standard-Library-Tutorial-Referenc...

14- http://www.amazon.com/API-Design-C-Martin-Reddy/dp/012385003...

15- http://www.amazon.com/The-Linux-Programming-Interface-Handbo...

16- http://www.amazon.com/Computer-Systems-Programmers-Perspecti...

17- http://www.amazon.com/System-Programming-Unix-Adam-Hoover/dp...

18- http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Programming-Concept-Frantisek-F...

19- http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Management-Implementations-Prog...

20- http://www.amazon.com/UNIX-Filesystems-Evolution-Design-Impl...

21- http://www.amazon.com/PCI-System-Architecture-4th-Edition/dp...

22- http://www.amazon.com/Universal-Serial-System-Architecture-E...

23- http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-PCI-Express-Hardware-Deve...

24- http://www.amazon.com/Serial-Storage-Architecture-Applicatio...

25- http://www.amazon.com/SATA-Storage-Technology-Serial-ATA/dp/...

26- http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-BIOS-Developing-Extensible-Inte...

27- http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Assembly-Language-Program...

28- http://www.amazon.com/Linux-Kernel-Development-3rd-Edition/d...

29- http://www.amazon.com/Version-Control-Git-collaborative-deve...

30- http://www.amazon.com/Embedded-Software-Primer-David-Simon/d...

31- http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Embedded-Systems-C/dp/1565...

32- http://www.amazon.com/Making-Embedded-Systems-Patterns-Softw...

33- http://www.amazon.com/Operating-System-Concepts-Abraham-Silb...

34- http://www.amazon.com/Performance-Preemptive-Multitasking-Mi...

35- http://www.amazon.com/Design-Operating-System-Prentice-Hall-...

36- http://www.amazon.com/Unix-Network-Programming-Sockets-Netwo...

37- http://www.amazon.com/TCP-Illustrated-Volume-Addison-Wesley-...

38- http://www.amazon.com/TCP-IP-Illustrated-Vol-Implementation/...

39- http://www.amazon.com/TCP-Illustrated-Vol-Transactions-Proto...

40- http://www.amazon.com/User-Interface-Design-Programmers-Spol...

41- http://www.amazon.com/Designing-Interfaces-Jenifer-Tidwell/d...

42- http://www.amazon.com/Designing-Interfaces-Jenifer-Tidwell/d...

43- http://www.amazon.com/Programming-POSIX-Threads-David-Butenh...

44- http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/embedded/hwsw/software/hd-gma#d...

45- http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/architectu...

46- http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/embedded/hwsw/hardware/core-b75...

47- http://www.hdmi.org/index.aspx

48- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface

49- http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Device-Drivers-Sreekrishnan-...

50- http://www.amazon.com/Making-Embedded-Systems-Patterns-Softw...

51- http://www.amazon.com/Python-Programming-Introduction-Comput...

52- http://www.amazon.com/Practical-System-Design-Dominic-Giampa...

53- http://www.amazon.com/File-Systems-Structures-Thomas-Harbron...

54- ...well, I'll stop here.

Of course, the equivalent knowledge can be obtained by trial-and-error, which would take longer and might result in costly errors and imperfect design. The greater danger here is that a sole developer, without the feedback and interaction of even a small group of capable and experienced programmers could simply burn a lot of time repeating the mistakes made by those who have already trenched that territory.

If the goal is to write a small RTOS on a small but nicely-featured microcontroller, then the C books and the uC/OS book might be a good shove in the right direction. Things start getting complicated if you need to write such things as a full USB stack, PCIe subsystem, graphics drivers, etc.

lars512 · 2012-02-20 · Original thread

Steve McConnell's book "Code Complete" was an eye-opener for me. It also has a whole chapter on variable naming, and is worth a read.

http://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Const...

ISBN: 0735619670