What is a good book to learn programming?

[sgt4leaf]

What's a book that teaches programming, not a programming language though. Other than SICP and TAOCP.

I asked this in edmw, but no useful answer

 

[davidktw]

What's a book that teaches programming, not a programming language though. Other than SICP and TAOCP.

I asked this in edmw, but no useful answer

Generally there is no ONE book on programming. All the books tackle specific topics like a specific programming language, or concept.

However since it is extremely helpful to teach programming having a language, you will find most beginners programming languages books will teach certain aspect of programming approaches like how to write up a simple application depending on the author choice.

The simple application will demonstrate how to use a specific programming language to manipulate data structures, create programming structures like classes, objects, functions, procedures, and various core programming language concepts like pointers, references, manual/auto memory management ideas, datatypes etc.

However if you are looking for one book that will so call teach you how to program. It doesn't exist mainly because programming is a composition of various technologies and skill sets. If you start breaking down to bare human understanding, it is nothing more than build your steps one by one and get a task done. You break down tasks into subtasks and continue do so until it is a simple as writing a simple statement.

In programming, there are methodologies, design patterns, best practices, solution modelling and problem solving skills. All these justify a topic of their own and there are books just to tackle one of these topics.

You probably need to read at least 5+ books to get a good basic coverage to say you have started in programming. That's why programming is a course, not a book. Just like there is no one book that teaches you how to build a car. A car is a composition of various technologies from mechanical, material science, aerodynamics, electrical and computing. So many facilities comes together just to make a car possible. Isn't it ?

 

[weap0nx]

Yeah don't waste your time looking for that one book. Tell us what are you trying to achieve then perhaps someone can give you pointers on where to start. Programming is a very general concept, it's almost like saying what book to read to be a good engineer

 

[stay8899]

personally, I find the best way to learn is 'on the job'. Find some small project, and google all the way.

 

[sgt4leaf]

personally, I find the best way to learn is 'on the job'. Find some small project, and google all the way.

My Mobile applications teacher also said that. He said that when he was in poly/uni, the languages he learnt are now mostly obsolete, and he learnt java by doing projects.

 

[sha8888]

githubDOTcom/vhf/free-programming-books/blob/master/free-programming-books.md

Knock yourself out.

PS: I can't post links, so you gotta make that link work.

 

[kucheech]

my recommendation as an educator

Programming Logic and Design, Comprehensive [Paperback]
by Joyce Farrell
Programming Logic and Design, Comprehensive: Joyce Farrell: 9781285776712: Amazon.com: Books

 

[Littlewild]

Personal favourites:
The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master.
Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction.

Various books on design patterns. If you are new to design patterns, I suggest books like "Head First Design Patterns" or "Design Patterns For Dummies".

I also find "Software Estimation: Demystifying the Black Art" a good book to read up though strictly speaking it is not teaching programming.

 

[Lbaomye]

W3Schools Online Web Tutorials

 

[leaves]

What kinda of programming? I assume simple web programming??

If u are very rookie, try this:
Learn to code | Codecademy

A popular online programming education site right now.

 

[ipaq4444]

githubDOTcom/vhf/free-programming-books/blob/master/free-programming-books.md

Knock yourself out.

PS: I can't post links, so you gotta make that link work.

my recommendation as an educator

Programming Logic and Design, Comprehensive [Paperback]
by Joyce Farrell
Programming Logic and Design, Comprehensive: Joyce Farrell: 9781285776712: Amazon.com: Books

Thanks you Sir

 

[weihtee]

What kinda of programming? I assume simple web programming??

If u are very rookie, try this:
Learn to code | Codecademy

A popular online programming education site right now.

I don't see much need for books nowadays with Google and Youtube, codecademy is what I used to learn programming

 

[peterchan75]

I learned PL/1, COBOL, PASCAL, FORTRAN, LISP, SIMSCRIPT and C. No C++ at that time. Most of them are dead. Pickup VBA at work. Self learn perl with helps from davidktw.