Here is a little review of "The Pragmatic Programmer". Indeed, This is one of my favorite "programming" books".
Written by Andy Hunt and Dave Thomas, two professional software developers, this book reviews different situations in the Software industry. Furthermore, I felt that this book was really easy to read: Few codes and tips available whatever the programming language. In fact, it is a great entry in the Software world for each new comers in the Software industry. If you are a veteran in the industry, I am not sure that you'll learn a lot!
With "The Pragmatic Programmer", you'll review several point of the industry, specially:
- How to fight the technical debt (rot code).
- How to don't repeat yourself.
- Create flexible, dynamic and adaptable code.
- Capture the real requirement.
- The essence of agility.
- And other stuffs...
Despite the dated examples (The first edition was released in 1999!), the different anecdote are still relevant!
From my personal experience, this is my first programming book and the one which motivated me to create this blog. After, I continued to read more and more book and become a better Software Developer. More of that, this book gave to me "words" to several practice I done during my carrier.
Also, it reveals one aspect that I specially liked. The parallel between a Software Developer and a "Gardener". Indeed, as a gardener, a developer must regularly work on old and legacy system. Those legacy system should be maintained regularly to avoid technical debt (and then, keep a minimum of modernity!).
If I should recommend one book for a fresh Software Developer, it would be probably this one. So, don't hesitate to review it!