Must have Java book: is Google
# 2003-03-07 10:48:15 -0500 | Java | 2 CommentsI had this chat with OJB the other day:
ojb: not your top 3
mlq: I don’t have any java books (that I use)
ojb: I’d pick http://java.sun.com/docs/books/effective/
mlq: In fact, the book I use the most would be GOF, but only about 3 times a year
mlq: yeah… haven’t read that cover-to-cover yet
mlq: google would be my best java book
ojb: rofl
mlq: no! I’m seriois
mlq:
Yep, Effective Java by Joshua Bloch is a great book. But I’ve only skimmed OJB’s copy, I haven’t got around to buying my own copy yet. And I’m not sure if I will; now-days I tend to Google first and ask questions (or buy books) later.
The one book I want to pick up is The Pragmatic Programmer by Andrew Hunt and David Thomas. I’m much more interested in books about the craft of programming and software engineering than I am about particular API’s, or even paricular languages.
Anyway, the answer to OJB’s question “name my must-have Java book” the answer is “I don’t have one; I don’t own one. Google Is Your Friend”.
PS: I don’t even use the MSDN search to search MSDN, I use http://www.google.com/microsoft.html!
Well you should read Effective Java as is it a lot about engineering a good robust API. A lot of the information carries over the decent languages like Python.
A very good book about projects is the Software Project Survival Guide (http://www.construx.com/survivalguide/). Influenced me greatly (not that is necessarily a good thing :-) )
I can certainly recommend The Pragmatic Programmer. I bought it a couple of years ago and have just re-read it. The authors maintain their own blogs at http://www.toolshed.com/blog and http://pragprog.com/pragdave/.