Programmers or coders are prominent jobs that are being pursued by many people. This field offers promising growth opportunities, guaranteed salaries, and excellent advancement possibilities.
To start working in this field, you need to learn a lot of knowledge to improve your ability. In addition to taking courses, you can find guides in relevant books.
This article will introduce you to the top ten programming books. This information will give you an overview to choose the best book.
1. Working Effectively with Legacy Code
Specification
- Language: English
- Paperback: 464 pages
- Item Weight: 1.63 pounds
- Dimensions: 7 x 1.2 x 9.25 inches
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Reason To Buy
- Teach effective problem solving
- Help optimize the program
- Point out common mistakes
- Support to solving problems
Review
The first book I recommend is a great product that helps you overcome complicated code. It is an excellent publication to get you through long, boring coding lessons. I have greatly optimized my work after reading this book.
There are many traps and problems that programmers and coders often run into. Michael Feathers has been highly skillful in formulating formulas to avoid common mistakes. After reading this book, I am no longer troubled by these problems. I can apply these methods to solve real-world issues smoothly.
I can apply the knowledge from this work to make changes or fix the code without rewriting the entire program. It saves energy and time for my work.
The examples in the book relate to popular programming programs such as Java and C++, which are suitable for many different audiences.
2. The Clean Coder
Specification
- Language: English
- Paperback: 256 pages
- Item Weight: 14.1 ounces
- Dimensions: 7 x 0.55 x 9.13 inches
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Reason To Buy
- Easy to read
- Captivating storytelling
- Industry Overview
- Understand psychology for programmers
Review
Robert Cecil Martin is a famous American software developer. You may know him by his nickname Uncle Bob or by the work of The Agile Manifesto, which he co-authored. I bought this book when I started working as a programmer through code. It was a wise decision on my part.
In the first 3 chapters, the book details the responsibilities and actual work. So, I have understood the task I will have to do and the working environment.
Hence, I was not surprised when I entered the company. Anyone who wants to pursue this field should understand what the author shares in this book.
The practical advice that the author gives in the work is also constructive. These are the things that Bob has learned in his career, so the advice provided is efficient and valuable. I like how the author tells stories and shares issues that are easy to read and grasp.
The book’s 14 chapters turn the dry coder job into an artistic creation. It is a significant factor to help readers when they want to go further in the field.
3. Code Complete
Specification
- Language: English
- Paperback: 960 pages
- Item Weight: 3.35 pounds
- Dimensions: 7.5 x 1.63 x 9.13 inches
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Reason To Buy
- Teach basic coding
- Useful Reference Publications
- Popular all over the world
- Author of great reputation
Review
Code Complete has been the best-selling software development manual for a long time. The product has been translated into 20 languages and has become popular worldwide.
I wasn’t surprised by its popularity. This publication offers excellent information that anyone who wants to get into programming should know.
Its main content is about coding to build software. I had the opportunity to understand the commonly used encodings and how to use them correctly. These insights worked great when I applied them to my work.
Not only focusing on software coding work, but the book also covers testing activities and fixing common errors when developing code. I also love the reference section that the book mentions.
The recommendations for reference publications the author put forward became my favorites to read afterward. They provide helpful information to help me grow in my employability and promotion.
4. The Pragmatic Programmer
Specification
- Language: English
- Paperback: 352 pages
- Item Weight: 1.98 pounds
- Dimensions: 7.7 x 1.1 x 9.35 inches
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Reason To Buy
- Learn how to develop software
- Helps improve understanding of user needs
- Help solve real-life problems
- Improve work capacity
Review
Next, I would like to introduce you to a publication that anyone working in software development should read. The Pragmatic Programmer offers valuable lessons that could take years to learn on your own. This book has completely changed the way I work and deal with problems.
It is one of the essential books in my life. The book engagingly offers practical knowledge. I learned how to avoid common pitfalls, deal with fundamental code problems, and address security vulnerabilities. Thanks to that, I have much more confidence in my work.
This book turned me from an inexperienced intern to a dynamic software developer. I already know how to write more flexible and on-demand code that pleases my customers.
The Pragmatic Starter Kit development methods that the author mentioned are also beneficial. These tools provide the best support for my work.
5. Domain-Driven Design
Specification
- Language: English
- Paperback: 560 pages
- Item Weight: 2.73 pounds
- Dimensions: 7.4 x 1.4 x 9.55 inches
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Reason To Buy
- Good interpretation
- There is a lot of additional knowledge
- Easy to understand concept explanation
- Provide knowledge about software development
Review
The next book on this list is an excellent product by Eric Evans. He is a well-known software domain model developer and a helpful knowledge-sharing community head.
His book will be a great addition to both self-taught and experienced programmers. I have better understood the basic concepts and software models through this book. With each definition the author gives, he uses real-life examples to illustrate.
I can understand the issues without spending too much time. I also know how and when to apply this knowledge, making my work much more straightforward.
You won’t be able to read this book any time soon. It requires you to have the patience to read and apply in practice to clear the problems.
6. Design Patterns
Specification
- Language: English
- Paperback: 416 pages
- Item Weight: 1.95 pounds
- Dimensions: 9.31 x 7.62 x 1.04 inches
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Reason To Buy
- Simple explanation
- Issues are presented
- Provide real cases to use the software model
- Show the correlation between the model’s
Review
The next book I discuss will upgrade the reader’s coding and software development vision. I can eliminate the little thoughts of an intern software developer to have a longer-term mindset.
This publication will support me well in the future, helping me to develop my career. This book covers the three most important aspects of a software model.
It’s code structure, creativity, and finally, issues related to model behavior. The author’s explanation is beautiful and easy to understand. It didn’t take long to grasp the knowledge the book explains.
This publication has included much additional information compared to the previous first edition. They provide valuable and relevant information to get you started. I can keep track of the issues that are needed to apply to my work.
This work mainly focuses on examples of C++, which is a reasonably old programming language. It would be great if the author released suggestions in today’s popular programs like Go, Python, Carbon, or Typescript.
Yet, it is still a publication that I have to rate 5 stars from the very first chapters.
7. Refactoring
Specification
- Language: English
- Paperback: 448 pages
- Item Weight: 2.03 pounds
- Dimensions: 0.8 x 7.4 x 9.2 inches
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Reason To Buy
- Funny language
- Bringing a new approach
- Useful and practical experience
- Presenting refactoring techniques
- The updated version is in line with reality
Review
If you want to ask about a work that can help you develop programming methods, I recommend Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code.
As chief science officer at ThoughtWorks, Martin Fowler has extensive experience in software design and structure. The author shows the reader how to approach the code attractively so that anyone can read and understand.
The book focuses on clarifying aspects to the Java programming language. Programmers and code developers will love the refactoring concept and the author’s usage guidelines. The author’s humorous speech highlights the issue and is not stressful to read.
I have carefully read every step that the author shows. It is fascinating the thoughts that the author shares through each step.
The concepts and accompanying examples are elementary to understand, and you won’t need to question anything the book covers.
8. Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture
Specification
- Language: English
- Paperback: 560 pages
- Item Weight: 2.44 pounds
- Dimensions: 7.7 x 1.6 x 9.4 inches
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Reason To Buy
- Practical experience
- The basic concepts
- Good filtering
- Effective solution
Review
The next book that I recommend is also by Martin Fowler. The knowledge presented in work is old compared to today, but I still learned a lot from this book. The publication provides fundamental concepts for software designers and developers to tackle the more complex problems of today.
I’ve owned this work for over seven years, and I still have to look it up regularly as I work. Issues related to building software and my business structure can all find advice from the work.
The author has provided a detailed explanation of the database application and software architecture with his practical experiences. Therefore, the information in the book has high applicability and good distillation.
The approach to the problem that the author gives to the reader and the solutions are total plus points for this publication.
9. Enterprise Integration Patterns
Specification
- Language: English
- Paperback: 736 pages
- Item Weight: 3.22 pounds
- Dimensions: 7.2 x 1.7 x 9.4 inches
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Reason To Buy
- Detailed analysis
- High practicality
- Useful, practical application
- Effective problem-solving method
Review
You may feel overwhelmed when you hold this publication in your hand. It seems thick and heavy because the knowledge presented in the book is very detailed and complete. Prepare mentally and patiently to read the book to the end. The value you get from work will definitely be worth it.
The author has presented to readers the models and concepts of using software and application code in enterprise development. I found this book easy to read.
The author writes in great detail about the reasons for choosing the model, why the software is the best application, and how to apply it in building a business.
You will learn how to solve problems effectively through this book, which is something I greatly appreciate from the book.
The work focuses on analyzing four different types of data integration. These include Shared Databases, Messaging, File-based, and RPC. I have understood the advantages and disadvantages related to these aspects through the book.
The commercial middleware products that the author gives as examples are Tibco, web methods, and Mulesoft.
10. Head First Design Patterns
Specification
- Language: English
- Paperback: 694 pages
- Item Weight: 2.29 pounds
- Dimensions: 8 x 1.4 x 9.25 5 inches
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Reason To Buy
- Easy to read
- Presenting popular models
- Bringing a new paradigm approach
- Detailed repeating examples
- Easy-to-understand knowledge
Review
Finally, this list will describe my experience with Head First Design Patterns. The book provides information on how to use today’s most popular design patterns.
It benefits students, interns, or beginners in coding and software development.
You need a basic knowledge of the Java programming language to understand what the author is talking about.
The book focuses on teaching you about design models with real-life examples. It didn’t take me long to understand what the author wanted to say.
The book presents the work aspects in the easiest way possible, so anyone can get the information from the product.
The book has given me a new approach to software models. I’ve understood how to design user-oriented software and code and how to refactor the model.
The examples are repeated, helping the reader understand each specific case where the models can be applied. The product has helped me a lot in my work.
Buying Guides
You need to consider carefully to own the best work for you. Our book-buying guides below make it easy to find helpful help documents for your work.
Programming language
Each book will focus on one or more different programming languages. And many long-published books will be about Python, Java, and C++.
These languages are obsolete and rarely used in practice. Recent books cover examples and concepts in new languages like Swift, JavaScript, GO, or SQL.
Older languages will give you the basics of software and coding. Publications on modern programming languages will be highly applicable in practice. Depending on your work, you should look for the corresponding document for reference.
Author
The author’s reputation is also something you need to consider when buying a book. Works from authors with many experience in the industry and a high level of education will help you more.
They provide useful and reliable information. In addition, the voices of different authors will be different. You should look for the author whose expression works best for you so that you can enjoy reading the book.
Price
Its cost will vary by edition. In short, hardcover publications will be more expensive than soft ones. However, paperbacks are often more prone to tear and damage. You should only use hardcover for work with little updates.
Many authors regularly edit the content in their books to fit the actual conditions. You need to buy the book repeatedly with these editions, so hardcover copies are often expensive.
FAQs
What type of coding is most valuable?
There are many popular programming languages to design software programs today, such as JavaScript, Python, and HTML/CSS. Some modern languages that have been developed recently are SQL and GO.
Is learning coding from books effective?
Yes. Many works can provide essential and valuable information to approach coding and program development. If you work hard and have patience, books will be an excellent vehicle for acquiring knowledge.
What is the most challenging type of coding?
Some coding languages that many experts consider difficult are Intercal, Scala, Malbolge, Haskell, and Swift.
How does coding help students?
Coding helps students practice their thinking ability, develop problem-solving, and gain experience for future jobs.
How is coding helpful in the future?
Software programs based on programming languages will be indispensable in the future. All fields need to use these applications, bringing high work efficiency. Learning coding and programming will bring great job opportunities.
Conclusion
If you need practical experience to apply in your work, The Clean Coder: A Code of Conduct for Professional Programmers will support you.
Meanwhile, the latest information in Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code will keep you abreast of current trends.
I hope you find a book that can guide you to advance in your career.