The Missing Readme: A Guide for the New Software Engineer

The Missing Readme: A Guide for the New Software Engineer

  • Downloads:1974
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-08-12 09:21:26
  • Update Date:2025-09-07
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Chris Riccomini
  • ISBN:1718501838
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

Key concepts and best practices for new software engineers -- stuff critical to your workplace success that you weren't taught in school。

The Missing README is a real-world, workplace success guide for new software engineers: best practices, technical skills, and processes that are key to success for any engineer, but aren't taught in school。

For example, you'll learn how to work with existing codebases and how to write production-grade code; how to manage software dependencies; and processes used to test, review, build, deploy, and operate software。 You'll also learn design processes and how to partner with an engineering manager to get things done。 Do's and Don'ts deliver information in a nutshell, and "Level Up" sections point to further reading。 Real-world stories are woven in throughout to reinforce key points。

This book is for you if you can answer "yes" to any one of these questions:

- Do you feel like the newbie on your engineering team?

- Are you wondering how to review code or write a design document?

- Are you worried about breaking existing code?

- Are you overwhelmed by the thought of being "on-call"?

- Are you surrounded by unfamiliar acronyms like SLA, SLO, PPP, 1:1, OKR?

- Are you questioning the point of sprint planning meetings, story points, and stand-ups?

Download

Reviews

Michael Burnam-Fink

Programming computers is actually not that difficult。 Programming computers in an organization is really fucking hard。I know from personal experience, having gone from self-taught academic to data science bootcamp to software developer for a bank。 Academic code, whether you're analyzing a dataset or doing homework assignments, has to work just once。 Commercial code has to work every day, and when it doesn't you're up at 5:00 AM doing hotfixes and trying to explain to important clients why they s Programming computers is actually not that difficult。 Programming computers in an organization is really fucking hard。I know from personal experience, having gone from self-taught academic to data science bootcamp to software developer for a bank。 Academic code, whether you're analyzing a dataset or doing homework assignments, has to work just once。 Commercial code has to work every day, and when it doesn't you're up at 5:00 AM doing hotfixes and trying to explain to important clients why they should stay with you even though you look absolutely clownshoes。The Missing Readme has a lot of good practical advice for writing maintainable code, which is different from clever code in that someone else, possibly future you, will have to work on it again。 But this book is really about the culture of computer programming, and about being the kind of useful friendly novice who's a good addition to teams, and can take over increased responsibilities as they grow in skill。 I found the sections on Operable Code, Code Reviews, and Technical Design particularly useful。And as a caveat, this review is based on the May 10 Early Access edition, but I suspect it's pretty close to done。 。。。more

Dalton Sweeney

Great read for early career software engineers。 The book pretty much covers all the bases of working at a mid to large sized technology company in 2021。