These computer programming books may help you take your programming to the next level. The topics in these books range from traditional programming to learning advanced algorithms. All the books mentioned in this article are popular with the programming community for providing in-depth documentation for beginners and intermediate programmers.
Since computer programming is how programmers are able to teach computers how to do things. Programming is the way of creating a set of instructions or rules for computer applications to follow. These instructions are often referred to as code; so when programmers are coding, they are creating solutions for the tasks or problems that the computer application was designed to solve.
Computer programmers are the reason we have so many cool tech-related gadgets in the world today. Many of them are self-taught geniuses that simply picked up a programming book and started creating.
Below are a few of the books that helped many programmers get started. Look at our pick of highly-rated computer programming books to see why they are recommended.
1. Concrete Mathematics: A Foundation for Computer Science
The book, Concrete Mathematics, takes the reader through introductory topics in mathematics used for the analysis of algorithms and advanced computer programming. The famous author of this book aims to give the reader a solid foundation in mathematics for solving complex equations, evaluating massive data, and detecting elusive trends in big data. In fact, the authors also make reference to this book in their professional endeavors. This book is a valuable resource for computer scientists and any discipline that makes use of mathematical methods.
2. Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software
CODE presents a user with creative ways of using language and opens a new frontier in the way we communicate with one another. CODE is the work of geniuses who make use of cutting-edge technology to create inventions that cater to the natural needs of humans to communicate.
The author makes use of the objects and language systems we are already familiar with such as Braille and Morse code to create this informative narrative. This computer science book delves into the in-depth explanations of the secrets and workings of computers and other smart devices used for communication in the 21st century.
3. Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction
The first release of CODE COMPLETE by Steve McConnell has been helpful for application developers who create useful software since its release over a decade ago. The latest version of this book contains essential revisions and updates regarding the leading-edge practices for application development. The reader can access hundreds of new code samples that explain the entire procedures of application development. This computer science book is a repository of the knowledge base from research, academia, and the world of commercial software development.
Steve McConnell explains effective techniques and critical programming principles in a practical guide, using easy-to-understand language. This book will elevate your programming skills, stimulate your thinking, and allow you to write quality codes irrespective of your experience level or application development platform. You will discover various programming techniques that help you to achieve the following:
- Increase your creativity and minimize the complexity of your codes,
- Leverage collaborative development techniques in your development projects, and
- Make use of defensive programming techniques that proactively eliminate bugs from your codes.
4. Introduction to Algorithms
This book starts by helping the user develop the mathematical foundation required for the analysis of algorithms, and applies the skills in solving various problems throughout the book. The user can leverage the tools designed in the early chapters to perform multiple tasks such as data sorting, data structuring, graphs, string algorithms, computational geometry, Fast Fourier Transformations (FFT), parallel models for computations, and many more.
The reader will find the extensive encyclopedic range, down-to-earth exposition, and many important analyses in the book invaluable for elevating programming skills. One of the best resources within this computer science book is the Pseudo-code explanation of algorithms and the proof of their accuracy. The user gains insight into necessary tools useful for the evaluation of the performance of algorithms.
5. The Design of Everyday Things
Have you ever wondered how excellent, usable designs are made? The Design of Everyday Things shows you how to go about creating great designs. The author explains the simple principles of making great designs such as intelligent constraints, using natural relationships, and the use of functions and control. The end result is to guide the user to take the appropriate action, at the right time, using the proper control.
Taking inference from this enlightening book, the author explained that the fault is often not with the user but with the product design that neither factors the needs of the user nor the principles of cognitive psychology into the design. Many of the problems include hidden controls, inconsistent relationships between the controls and functions, the absence of feedback mechanisms, and unreasonable demands for the user to memorize functions.
6. Compilers: Principles, Techniques, and Tools
When it comes to compiler designs, no other computer science book gives a practical introduction as The Compiler Principles Techniques by Alfred Aho. The reader can gain insights into fine state machines, context-free grammar, and syntax-directed translation.
7. C Programming Language
This computer science book provides an in-depth guide to the ANSI standard C language programming. The latest edition is a complete rewrite with many additional examples and problem sets used to explain how to implement various language constructs. Over the years, K&R has helped C programmers develop well-structured and efficient programs. Developers working with ANSI compilers can take advantage of this same guide also. This book covers the details of the C language and the official C language reference manual. The user can get instant help with ANSI changes, syntax, declarations, scope rules, and many more.
8. Essentials of Programming Languages
This book gives the student deep insight into the fundamental concepts of programming languages. Most of the necessary information in this book relates to the meaning of programming elements, and the use of interpreters to explain various language elements and the way they work practically. The approach of this book teaches the theory and gives the reader the privilege to practice coding also. The practical approach allows the user to view programming languages from various levels of abstraction while maintaining a connection between the high-level and low-level views.
The MIT Press website contains the complete Scheme codes for all interpreters and analyzers in this computer science book. Moreover, every chapter in this latest edition has been revised, and many additional exercises have been added. This new edition contains extensive revisions which include additional chapters on modules and continuation-passing style. This book is useful for both graduate and undergraduate courses and is also valuable for self-learning to enhance programming skills.
Conclusion
These programming books are the best investment for most programming students. We hope our best computer programming books list will help guide you in your future computer programming career. And if you’re more into web development languages then check out these Javascript books.