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Published: January 4, 2017
Tags:  Programming



The book in...
One sentence:
High-level overview of techniques for improving the process of software design and implementation.

Five sentences:
As a programmer you should always be on the lookout for new technologies, improved techniques, and opportunities to refactor your source. Since user requirements are usually not be set in stone, your abstracting away from a specific 'requirement' may produce a simpler or more robust system. Code should not be duplicated as per the DRY methodology and functionality should be sufficiently delegated via modularity (including teams). The model-view system assists in DRY avoidance, especially when drawing from universal data sources like plain-text files for things like configuration or schema. A version control system and automated tests can help locate and remedy a bug as soon as it becomes a bug.

designates my notes. / designates important.


Thoughts

A “classic” from 1999. Lots of interesting “roots” of some now commonly known programming principles. I was particularly gleeful to hear the lauding of plain text files - my preferred way of storing almost everything. I think even JSON is mentioned alongside the more ubiquitous XML in 1999.

Source control, particularly since git/github, is now defacto. The authors were way ahead of this fact. Similarly they mention something dangerously similar to test driven design, modern buzzwords sure, but still a great way to work. There are also a lot of general how to deal with day-to-day problems programmers face, like customer spec sheets, deadlines, and communication.

Interesting and breezy read, would recommend as light reading to any programmer.


Table of Contents


· Chapter 1 - A Pragmatic Philosophy

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· Chapter 2 - A Pragmatic Approach

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· Chapter 3 - The Basic Tools

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· Chapter 4 - Pragmatic Paranoia

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· Chapter 5 - Bend or Break

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· Chapter 6 - While You Are Coding

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· Chapter 7 - Before the Project

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· Chapter 8 - Pragmatic Projects

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· Appendix A: Resource