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Ask HN: What are some good books to read as a developer?

6 points by bl00djack ↗ HN
I think I am still a junior level web developer, but recently, I had been assigned to a major project at my job. So I am on my way to becoming a senior developer. I want to start reading books on development and good programmer ethic and management skills. Can anyone recommend me any good books?

7 comments

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jfaucett
Here's some general books I think will make anyone a better programmer if you spend the time to internalize the subject matter. Don't really know any about management etc.

1. SCIP (Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs)

2. Introduction to Algorithms (Cormen, Leiserson, Rivest, Stein)

3. The Art of Computer Programming (Vol 1-3).

4. Programming Pearls

gt565k
I'm not sure those are the best resources for a web developer. While these are good things to know, I'd focus on mastering the stack/framework one is using as a web developer.

For example, If you're doing Ruby on Rails, I'd focus on reading a solid book about Ruby and then one about Rails. A lot of people try to get good with a framework, without having a solid understanding of the language used.

Algorithms and data structures are a good solid requirement, but chances are you are doing CRUD / REST apps with a web framework and you need to master the framework and back-end language used first, before you dive deep into algorithms and the likes.

panjaro
How many programmers have actually finished "The Art of Computer Programming" ?
hibala
I personally feel developer is not about technology, but we should be aware of how in earlier times people behind the technology inventions have lived, worked to bring up great things what we are currently used. So my one of the oldest and my personal fav. is :

Digital Deli: http://www.atariarchives.org/deli

Currently out of print, but I own an copy.

Yadi
I would recommend you to look into this book: HTTP: The Definitive Guide

As a web developer understanding how the Internet stack and some specific protocols work, could very easily make your life easier.

aprdm
This does indeed look like a great book but it's from 2002, I understand that the internet changed a lot in the last 13 years?
Yadi
This is about the fundamentals of HTTP, most of the changes are based on these fundamentals.