Plan for Bil Simser
by Bil Simser · 07/05/2004 (9:41 pm) · 7 comments
Things have changed since I started programming back in the 80s. However there are a few truths that are universal. Here's my list of the essential books all programmers, designers, coders, architects, etc. should have in their repository as mandatory reference/reading. Also if you're hiring new people out of University or something, giving them this stack would be a good way to introduce them into the world.
Code Complete (2nd Edition coming soon)
Eric Evan's Domain Driven Design
Design Patterns
Kent Beck's Test Driven Development: By Example
Martin Fowler's Refactoring: Improving the Design of Code
UML Distilled
There are others that are great too (and I'm sure people will have more):
Rapid Development
The Pragmatic Programmer
Agile Project Management with Scrum
Code Complete (2nd Edition coming soon)
Eric Evan's Domain Driven Design
Design Patterns
Kent Beck's Test Driven Development: By Example
Martin Fowler's Refactoring: Improving the Design of Code
UML Distilled
There are others that are great too (and I'm sure people will have more):
Rapid Development
The Pragmatic Programmer
Agile Project Management with Scrum
About the author
#3
For the graphics programmer I would add
Computer Graphics, second edition Foley & Van Damm
Graphics Games I-V (or whatever they are up to)
07/06/2004 (7:39 am)
Code complete and Design Patterns are exellent books.For the graphics programmer I would add
Computer Graphics, second edition Foley & Van Damm
Graphics Games I-V (or whatever they are up to)
#4
I'd suggest Moller & Haines "Realtime Rendering" as a more up-to-date alternative.
I'll also suggest ALL of the "gems" series (graphics + games), all of the "AIWisdom" series (all two that is). All pretty high quality info straight from the horses mouth.
I'm not massively into those "design patterns" books myself. Although I suspect they are useful. Personally, I'd recommend a book about algorithmic design than programming per-se, something like "Introduction to Algorithms" by cormen et al (MIT press, GOOOOOD book).
Meh, just get yourself to your local university library and leech as much and as often as possible! (by the way, using the internet is NOT a replacement for literature search). Go get some SIGGRAPH journals and learn where Carmack stole his ideas!
07/06/2004 (9:43 am)
Meh, foley is just too old and lame. :) hahaha.. no, its a good "all topics" book, but no really that useful in modern ways.I'd suggest Moller & Haines "Realtime Rendering" as a more up-to-date alternative.
I'll also suggest ALL of the "gems" series (graphics + games), all of the "AIWisdom" series (all two that is). All pretty high quality info straight from the horses mouth.
I'm not massively into those "design patterns" books myself. Although I suspect they are useful. Personally, I'd recommend a book about algorithmic design than programming per-se, something like "Introduction to Algorithms" by cormen et al (MIT press, GOOOOOD book).
Meh, just get yourself to your local university library and leech as much and as often as possible! (by the way, using the internet is NOT a replacement for literature search). Go get some SIGGRAPH journals and learn where Carmack stole his ideas!
#5
07/06/2004 (5:27 pm)
Hey - there's a name from the past! Kent and I did our senior software project together (many years ago).
#6
mentioning a few others:
OpenGL Game Programming
3D Game Programming all in one
Maths for 3d game programming and computer graphics.
Requirements Analysis and System Design
UML and C++(a practical guide to oo development)
Begninning C++ (Ivor Horton)
07/06/2004 (6:32 pm)
I have one off that list - UML distilled, and also the AI Game PRogramming wisdom mentioned by phil.mentioning a few others:
OpenGL Game Programming
3D Game Programming all in one
Maths for 3d game programming and computer graphics.
Requirements Analysis and System Design
UML and C++(a practical guide to oo development)
Begninning C++ (Ivor Horton)
#7
07/07/2004 (12:24 pm)
C++ in a nutshell or any similar quickreference book comes in handy too. On a side note i would recommend that any project manager or game designer whether they have programming skill or not take a read through Pragmatic Programmer before they begin work on a game project of any scale. [edit] and Rapid development as well, sorry missed that one. I have read both and they are indispensable for people who *think* that they know how to run a project :) [/edit] 
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