A reading list for software developers

These are books that I recommend for software developers.

Must read

• Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software. Erich Gamma, Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson, John Vlissides.
• Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code. Martin Fowler.
• Working Effectively with Legacy Code. Michael Feathers.
• The Design of Everyday Things. Don Norman. (I read the first edition.)
• Extreme Programming Explained: Embrace Change. Kent Beck.
• The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement. Eliyahu M. Goldratt.

Programming

• Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software. Erich Gamma, Richard Helm, Ralph Johnson, John Vlissides.
• Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code. Martin Fowler.
• Working Effectively with Legacy Code. Michael Feathers.
• Coders at Work: Reflections on the Craft of Programming. Peter Seibel.
• The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master. Andrew Hunt, David Thomas.

Languages

C

• The C Programming Language. Brian W. Kernighan, Dennis Ritchie.

C++

• The C++ Standard Library - A Tutorial and Reference. Nicolai M. Josuttis. (I have the first edition.)

Java

• Effective Java. Joshua Bloch.

JavaScript

• JavaScript: The Good Parts. Douglas Crockford.

Perl

• Programming Perl. Brian D. Foy, Tom Christiansen, Jon Orwant, Larry Wall. (I read the second edition.)

Python

I defer to Jesse Noller’s Good to Great Python Reads.

User interfaces

• The Design of Everyday Things. Don Norman. (I read the first edition.)
• The Humane Interface: New Directions for Designing Interactive Systems. Jef Raskin.
• Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability. Steve Krug.

Project management

• Extreme Programming Explained: Embrace Change. Kent Beck.
• The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement. Eliyahu M. Goldratt.
• Critical Chain: A Business Novel. Eliyahu M. Goldratt.
• Measuring and Managing Performance in Organizations. Robert D. Austin.

Product management

• The Innovator’s Dilemma: The Revolutionary Book That Will Change the Way You Do Business. Clayton M. Christensen.

Funding

• Mastering the VC Game: A Venture Capital Insider Reveals How to Get from Start-up to IPO on Your Terms. Jeffrey Bussgang.