Understanding the Professional Programmer

by Gerald M. Weinberg

Overview

Consultant and legendary programmer Gerald M. Weinberg offers readers a unique insider's view of the many ways to become a better programmer and to improve job performance.

Organized as a collection of essays about the profession of programming, the book is both provocative and readable. Each chapter concludes with an entertaining and instructive parable.

Anyone interested in becoming a skilled and experienced professional in this sometimes treacherous profession will benefit from Weinberg's insights.

Gerald M. Weinberg, author of The Psychology of Computer Programming, offers readers an insider's view, with suggestions on how to become a better programmer and improve job performance, in a book that's both helpful and a pleasure to read. Learn how to

become a professional

get a little respect

survive in a bureaucracy

think more effectively

discover what kind of thinker you are

envision the future of the professional programmer.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940012867469
Publisher:	Gerald Weinberg
Publication date:	06/16/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	776 KB

About the Author

I've always been interested in helping smart people be happy and productive. To that end, I've published books on human behavior, including Weinberg on Writing: The Fieldstone Method, The Psychology of Computer Programming, Perfect Software and Other Fallacies, and an Introduction to General Systems Thinking. I've also written books on leadership including Becoming a Technical Leader, The Secrets of Consulting (Foreword by Virginia Satir), More Secrets of Consulting, and the four-volume Quality Software Management series.


I try to incorporate my knowledge of science, engineering, and human behavior into all of my writing and consulting work (with writers, hi-tech researchers, software engineers, and people whose life-situation could require the use of a service dog). I write novels about such people, including The Aremac Project, Aremac Power, Jigglers, First Stringers, Second Stringers, The Hands of God, Freshman Murders, Earth's Endless Effort, and Mistress of Molecules—all about how my brilliant protagonists produce quality work and learn to be happy. My books may be found as eBooks at <http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JerryWeinberg>; on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B000AP8TZ8; and at Barnes and Noble.


Early in my career, I was the architect for the Project Mercury's space tracking network and designer of the world's first multiprogrammed operating system. I won the Warnier Prize, the Stevens Award, and the first Software Testing Professionals' Luminary Award, all for my writing on software quality. I was also elected a charter member of the Computing Hall of Fame in San Diego and chosen for the University of Nebraska Hall of Fame.


But the "award" I'm most proud of is the book, The Gift of Time (Fiona Charles, ed.) written by my student and readers for my 75th birthday. Their stories make me feel that I've been at least partially successful at helping smart people be happy.

Editorial Reviews

". . . probably my favorite book on the subject of software development. It is definitely my favorite of Weinberg's many excellent books. I return to this book again and again, and find something new every time. . . .

"Weinberg's gift is inspiring thinking that is outside of one's normal patterns of thought. . . .

"I predict that software developers another twenty years from now will still be reading this book."

Daniel Read

"this book is likely to give readers a better start on supervising than the conventional management book would. It mixes knowledge of bottom-line reality with techie ingenuity."

Walter Zintz

". . . the author has a marvelous knack of mixing humor and serious discussion thereby getting his message across. . . . a very thought provoking book. . . . immensely enjoyable."

Lorna Kyle

". . . this book provides practical ideas and insights concerning the 'people problems' of computer programming. The book is organized as a series of short essays, each exploring a concept vital to the advancement of the software professional. For all professional programmers, and especially for their managers. . . . Weinberg's book challenges professionals to reflect on and share their own meta-programs and principles."

Richard E. Biehl

"If you are a programmer or manage programmers, or indeed just associate with programmers, this is a book that you should read. . . . turn to any one of the essays, and find a thought-provoking idea."

Anonymous Author