Becoming a Better Programmer

If you’re passionate about programming and want to get better at it, you’ve come to the right source. Code Craft author Pete Goodliffe presents a collection of useful techniques and approaches to the art and craft of programming that will help boost your career and your well-being.

Goodliffe presents sound advice that he’s learned in 15 years of professional programming. The book’s standalone chapters span the range of a software developer’s life—dealing with code, learning the trade, and improving performance—with no language or industry bias. Whether you’re a seasoned developer, a neophyte professional, or a hobbyist, you’ll find valuable tips in five independent categories:

• Code-level techniques for crafting lines of code, testing, debugging, and coping with complexity
• Practices, approaches, and attitudes: keep it simple, collaborate well, reuse, and create malleable code
• Tactics for learning effectively, behaving ethically, finding challenges, and avoiding stagnation
• Practical ways to complete things: use the right tools, know what “done” looks like, and seek help from colleagues
• Habits for working well with others, and pursuing development as a social activity

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Care About the Code
Part I. you.write(code);
Chapter 2. Keeping Up Appearances
Chapter 3. Write Less Code!
Chapter 4. Improve Code by Removing It
Chapter 5. The Ghost of a Codebase Past
Chapter 6. Navigating a Route
Chapter 7. Wallowing in Filth
Chapter 8. Don’t Ignore That Error!
Chapter 9. Expect the Unexpected
Chapter 10. Bug Hunting
Chapter 11. Testing Times
Chapter 12. Coping with Complexity
Chapter 13. A Tale of Two Systems

Part II. Practice Makes Perfect
Chapter 14. Software Development Is…
Chapter 15. Playing by the Rules
Chapter 16. Keep It Simple
Chapter 17. Use Your Brain
Chapter 18. Nothing Is Set in Stone
Chapter 19. A Case for Code Reuse
Chapter 20. Effective Version Control
Chapter 21. Getting One Past the Goalpost
Chapter 22. The Curious Case of the Frozen Code
Chapter 23. Please Release Me

Part III. Getting Personal
Chapter 24. Live to Love to Learn
Chapter 25. Test-Driven Developers
Chapter 26. Relish the Challenge
Chapter 27. Avoid Stagnation
Chapter 28. The Ethical Programmer
Chapter 29. A Love for Languages
Chapter 30. Posturing Programmers

Part IV. Getting Things Done
Chapter 31. Smarter, Not Harder
Chapter 32. It’s Done When It’s Done
Chapter 33. This Time I’ve Got It

Part V. The People Pursuit
Chapter 34. People Power
Chapter 35. It’s the Thought That Accounts
Chapter 36. Speak Up!
Chapter 37. Many-festos
Chapter 38. An Ode to Code