“How to Design Programs” is yet another book to read from MIT Press. The good thing about this particular book is that it talks about general programming principles. These principles are useful not only to professional developers, but to almost everyone. In book’s own words:
Many professions require some form of computer programming. Accountants program spreadsheets and word processors; photographers program photo editors; musicians program synthesizers; and professional programmers instruct plain computers. Programming has become a required skill.
Yet programming is more than just a vocational skill. Indeed, good programming is a fun activity, a creative outlet, and a way to express abstract ideas in a tangible form. And designing programs teaches a variety of skills that are important in all kinds of professions: critical reading, analytical thinking, creative synthesis, and attention to detail.
This book can be purchased in print from Amazon, or read online on it’s website. Also on the website you can find solutions to all problems presented in the book, additional problem sets, corrections to all known mistakes and typos, and much more.
If you don’t know why you should learn how to design programs, then flip through first few pages – there is a special part for you.