Required Reading

| 0 comments |

Over the years as a software developer, manager, and executive, I find myself reading  a few "classics" over and over.  One might think that the ideas discussed would get outdated over time, but this is not the case.  With each read, I have a greater appreciation of the points  made.  The real world software battles fought (some won and some lost)  give greater appreciation of the wisdom shared.


Read These First and Read These Again


Every software engineer, web developer, project manager -- any one who has a job function related to software should read these:


Mythical Man Month by Fred Brooks


Hints for System Design by Butler Lampson


Whenever I start a project, I always (re)read or skim these.  I point out to every new employee that they should attempt to read these.   For the non-developer or inexperienced program these  might not make too much sense.  But there are always lessons to be learned regardless.


Current Good Reads


Not sure if these have legs that will withstand the test of time -- bu they are pretty interesting today.


Dreaming in Code by Scott Rosenberg


This is an interesting account of what went on in OSAF's Chandler project. It provides good insight of what can go wrong, even with good people with good intentions.  Very up-to-date.  Makes you realize the more things change  the more things stay the same.


Founders and Work: Stories of Startups' Early Days by Jessica Livingston


Real accounts of by founders of start ups.  Great insight.


Interesting Papers


The Cathedral and the Bazaar by Eric Raymond.


Worse is Better by Richard Gabriel.  The view point of  releasing  early, releasing often, releasing  before things are fully baked -- is often attributed to the "Worse Is Better" concept.   However this paper -- and its follow ons say something much more, much richer,  and much more subtle.  And, the follow on debates that "Worse is better is worse",  "Worse is worse", and the like are somewhat interesting follow ups.


On Formally Undecidable Propositions of Principia Mathematica and Related Systems by Kurt Godel.   Just kidding.  But for the wanker theoretician/arm chair philisopher in me, I enjoy reading this.


Blogs I Read Regularly


Skrentablog -- Rich is one of the best and brightest dyed-in-the-wool hackers come successful entrepreneur and executive.  And, there's a humility, practicality and brilliance in Rich that make his blog one of my favorite reads.  The best part is that he vacillates coherently from one extreme to another, seemingly contradicting himself, all the while providing perls of wisdom.


Joel on Software -- Practical advice from the trenches


Paul Graham -- Paul is a great writer with great insight.  There's an idealism in Paul's point of view that I love as a software professional.  I don't know if he serves the idealistic entreprenuer or serves himself/Y Combinator.  Maybe/hopefully both.


Read.  Write.  Learn.  Repeat.

About this Entry

This page contains a single entry by published on April 19, 2007 12:12 AM.

Where Are My Brethren? was the previous entry in this blog.

Silicon Valley Folklore is the next entry in this blog.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.

Categories

Powered by Movable Type 4.34-en