How to build a successful career in software development and avoid common mistakes. The 21st century is the age of the information society and new technologies. None of it would be possible without the huge software industry that underpins it. Yet software developers do not make the most of every opportunity to build successful careers, making the same mistakes over and over again. A successful software project has more to do with creative and artistic skills than with purely technical ones. The Programmer’s Black Book shows what distinguishes a novice programmer from someone who acts and works professionally. In the age of entrepreneurship and the new economy, professional software development is a fundamental pillar. If you want to become not just a good programmer but a true professional, you cannot afford to miss the gems of wisdom in The Programmer’s Black Book.
The Programmer’s Black Book (How to Build a Successful Career in Software Development and Avoid Common Mistakes) is available from all major stores and also as an audiobook.
Listen to the introductory chapter:
If you would prefer a printed copy delivered by traditional mail, we can send it directly to Spain and the rest of Europe. Contact us to place your order!
Or read it using the Kindle app on your Android or Mac device.
Read The Programmer’s Black Book Manifesto.
Why read The Programmer’s Black Book?
Reviews published on Amazon.com:
A very good book. It describes many real-life situations faced by software developers and shows you how to stay alert so you can avoid the most common mistakes in software projects. It is engaging and clear, with no complicated references. Recommended.
Based on my experience, I have been reviewing the mistakes made in many projects and looking for ways to improve the quality of my professional work. This book helped me put those bad experiences in order and identify the areas I still need to improve.
Other comments received by email:
[…] I’m really glad I found this site, and I started reading the chapters of The Programmer’s Black Book. I’m already on the second one and think I’ll read them all in a few days. It comforts me to know that in the world of software, bits, apps, and “new technologies,” there are still people who know how to think and see the world differently.
[…] First of all, I want to say that I’ve been following your project with interest for about a year. Just a few standalone chapters have brought about substantial changes in my work philosophy.
I saw my own experience reflected in some of the stories, and could easily imagine myself in many of the others. I loved them all.
[…] I read about you on Barrapunto some time ago and was interested in the project, which was still in its early stages. I remembered it today and have enjoyed what I’ve read. I just wanted to ask whether the finished book will have more chapters than those listed in the chapter section, or not (I seem to remember you mentioned there would be several dozen). I skimmed a couple of them and found them interesting, but quite short, although they do a great job of presenting key ideas.
Book chapters
- The Programmer’s Black Book Manifesto
- Development, testing, and refactoring (they all go together)
- What does it mean for a software project to succeed?
- It all comes down to principles
- A new twist on the law of change
- Dare to delete what you have implemented
- When adding more people is a recipe for disaster
- When the project manager is its own worst enemy
- A good developer’s day-to-day work
- Talent, technology, and methodology
- The misunderstood role of the software architect
- The return on investment of methodology
- It’s all in the UI
- Technological dilettantism
- It’s not about working more hours, but working better
- Frameworks, libraries, and how we reinvent the wheel
- Good developers write debuggable code
- A slave to your own solution, or how to make yourself indispensable
- We learn from others (or how not to be a lazy developer)
- Boosting productivity
- The age of entrepreneurship
- Conclusions
- One last thing
- The highly productive software developer test