Book Suggestions

[kavon89]

So I've got a Barnes and Noble gift card just itching to be spent. Does anyone have book suggestions for computer programming or computer science? I'm open to a new language or books that teach theory or good practice in programming. I already know or have a book on Java & C++.

Some books that look interesting:

Introduction to Algorithms (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Introduction-to-Algorithms-Second-Edition/Thomas-H-Cormen/e/9780262032933/)

Clean Code (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Clean-Code/Robert-C-Martin/e/9780132350884/)

Hacking (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Hacking/Jon-Erickson/e/9781593271442/)

[meatpan]

Introduction to Algorithms (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Introduction-to-Algorithms-Second-Edition/Thomas-H-Cormen/e/9780262032933/)


This is a classic book that teaches theory and can be used as a reference when you are selecting, designing, implementing, or upgrading the algorithms in your next project. I highly recommend it, especially if you enjoy mathematics.

For programming and engineering practice, consider 'Code Complete': http://www.amazon.com/Code-Complete-Practical-Handbook-Construction/dp/0735619670

[Jonas thomas]

Quick question here.... I noticed that the engineering and programming sections have hugely shrunk in the last couple of years (Illinois, Borders at least).
Is that the same elsewhere??

[cardinals_fan]

Programming Perl is an awesome book, both for the Perl and the humor.

[CptPicard]

Abelson, Sussman: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs. A huge classic that hopefully helps you see why exactly I and a lot of other people take the positions we do in the high level vs. low level discussions.

I also would like to second the CLRS suggestion. It is a very verbose tome that has enough mathematics to give a theoretical view, but IMO those people who suggest that it's a good book for those who specifically enjoy mathematics are not used to mathematically rigorous algorithmic treatment -- the CLRS math is pretty much right on target for someone who applies, though.

[ankursethi]

Pick up CLRS only if you're comfortable with maths. I tried reading it a couple of times, but gave up because it goes out of the way to be rigorous and (mathematically) correct. I'll read it again after my discrete maths course.

SICP is a great book. Buy it, keep it, love it. It's a shame I can't find a copy of it in India.

Programming Perl is good but only if you want to, um, program Perl.

My INR 0.96.

[CptPicard]

Pick up CLRS only if you're comfortable with maths. I tried reading it a couple of times, but gave up because it goes out of the way to be rigorous and (mathematically) correct. I'll read it again after my discrete maths course.

You really should. I personally don't feel like CLRS is overtly mathematical -- it actually holds your hand a lot, and that is why it is so thick. But then again, I am used to reading CS papers... but it strikes a pretty good balance between explaining algorithms in "words" and giving them some mathematical description and analysis as well. You can just read the descriptions and implement, or you can dig deeper into the analysis side -- and at least from the big-Oh side, you should, to have a good ballpark figure understanding of what you're dealing with.



SICP is a great book. Buy it, keep it, love it. It's a shame I can't find a copy of it in India.


And SICP... it's an interesting book because it tends to get better after every reading. It didn't seem like much when I first started with Scheme, and I really didn't "get" what it was about after first reading. But it really is not just a "Scheme book", it's a book about programming that uses Scheme to illustrate concepts within a syntactically minimal but expressively maximal context.

[kavon89]

I'm going to go with "Code Complete", its more useful for me right now instead of CLRS.

Anyone know of some computer security & penetration books to read up on other than "Hacking", or is that probably one of the better ones to start with?

[hod139]

I recommend Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptonomicon) I prefer to buy books for pleasure, not work. You can always borrow reference books or find good online free references.If you are insisting on reference books, (as noted by others) the CLRS Algorithms book is the standard reference.