Posted by There are numerous ways to learn programming these days, from games to video tutorials, and even internships at a more advanced level (as discussed in our article on ‘How to Score a Great Software Internship’). While there are a lot of options though, many find that the best way to get started is still through a good old-fashioned book. To that end, here you’ll find a list of great books that teach beginners what programming is, how to get started, and how to navigate your way through the bugs that you’ll inevitably encounter.
“Python Programming: An Introduction to Computer Science” by John M. Zelle
While Python is the language used to explain concepts in this book, it’s not the main focus. Python is instead used to illustrate the fundamentals of programming and program design, which GeeksforGeeks explains exist in any programming context. This book is a great way to learn the basics of programming in general with easy-to-understand language and real-world examples to assist even the newest beginner.
“Python For Dummies” by Aahz & Steph Maruch
For those who do want to focus on Python, this is an excellent book to start with. Scribd characterizes ‘Python For Dummies’ as a “quick and easy guide” to getting the most out of the language, which a lot of programmers consider to be foundational –– even if it has its limitations. “For Dummies” books may seem somewhat cliché at this point, but they tend to be quite thorough. Accordingly, this book will teach beginners how to document, design, and debug problems and how to handle functions and data. (It’s not as hard as it sounds, we promise!)
“Clean Code” by Robert Cecil Martin
This is a book that seasoned programmers recommend to everyone, regardless of experience level. Jonatas Baldin describes reading ‘Clean Code’ as “one of the best decisions I’ve made as a software developer,” and many others feel similarly. The book highlights the importance of good naming (in fact, this takes up a whole chapter by itself!), functions, formatting, and error handling, among other topics.
“Working Effectively with Legacy Code” by Michael C. Feathers
This book makes the list because of the fact that many programmers nowadays have to deal with legacy code, forcing them to maintain the code while adding enhancements and updates. Now, as BuiltIn has discussed, legacy code isn’t the best term in terms of reputation, just because it implies age. However, we still need programmers that can understand how older code works, especially when the programmer who originally wrote it is no longer available. That is where “Working Effectively with Legacy Code” comes in handy.
“Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code” by Kent Beck & Martin Fowler
Whether it’s legacy code or new, badly written code, there’s always room for improvement. Something new programmers should learn as soon as possible is that even if they are writing the cleanest, most understandable code possible, they’ll still find instances, either in their own or someone else’s code, where modification is needed. Learning how to refactor is one of the best ways to do that, and this book will help you along.
We hope that these books give you a starting point since the sheer number of programming books, videos, and online courses can be overwhelming. Whatever you choose to read though, rest assured that these and other programming books are packed with tips and processes that will help you become the programmer you want to be.