Category Archives: Book Reviews

Reviews of computer books that I have read over time.

Review of Hackers & Painters

Hackers & Painters Paul Graham O’Reilly, 2004 I was really looking forward to reading this book. I had read a few of Graham’s essays in the past and found his ideas to be thought-provoking. I expected some to find more of the same. Instead, this book ranged over a lot of topics, not all of… Read More »

Review of C++ Coding Standards

C++ Coding Standards Herb Sutter and Andrei Alexandrescu Addison-Wesley, 2005 For many programmers, the term coding standard generates a gut-level response. We all know that someone is going to be pushing the one, true brace style or the proper way to indent code. This subject is probably the best way to generate instantaneous rebellion among… Read More »

Review of CSS Cookbook

CSS Cookbook Christopher Schmitt O’Reilly, 2004 This has become my new favorite book on CSS. For quite some time, the only way to learn to use CSS in website design was search the web for references, keep CSS: The Definitive Guide by your side, and experiment. The problem is that the interactions with the different… Read More »

Programming Magazines

This is not really a book review. But, due to my recent change in commuting, I’ve been able to begin catching up on past issues of the programming magazines that I read. Due to one thing or another, I’ve gotten behind in my magazines over the past few years. But, I’m making up for that… Read More »

Review of XML Bible

XML Bible Elliotte Rusty Harold IDG Books, 1999 As computer books go, this book is old. However, it does a spectacular job of handling all of the nitty-gritty details of XML. I first stumbled across this book when it was new. The only really definitive information you could find on XML was the W3C recommendation… Read More »

Review of XML in a Nutshell

XML in a Nutshell Elliotte Rusty Harold and W. Scott Means O’Reilly, 2001 This is a good overview of XML-based technologies as of 2001. If you are looking for a deep understanding of the uses of XML and related technologies, this is not the right book for you. However, if you are looking for a… Read More »

Review of Peopleware

Peopleware Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister Dorset House Publishing Co., 1987 If you are a manager trying to get better work out of your programming staff, you need to read this book. If you are a project lead trying to be determine how to make your team more effective, you need to read this book.… Read More »