The psychology of computer programming
by Gerald M. Weinberg · first published 1971
68% recommend31% neutral2% critical
Why HN recommends it
A readable 1971 look at the human side of programming: egoless programming, team structure, and why programmers struggle to see their own bugs. Suits engineers and managers who want to understand how people work.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
This landmark 1971 classic is reprinted with a new preface, chapter-by-chapter commentary, and straight-from-the-heart observations on topics that affect the professional life of programmers. Long regarded as one of the first books to pioneer a people-oriented approach to computing, The Psychology of Computer Programming endures as a penetrating analysis of the intelligence, skill, teamwork, and problem-solving power of the computer programmer. Finding the chapters strikingly relevant to today's issues in programming, Gerald M. Weinberg adds new insights and highlights the similarities and d
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…was wondering why the sentences sound so familiar and it turns out it's heavily plagiarised (as in, a substantial number of sentences and paragraphs are lifted verbatim from) Gerald Weinberg's book The Psychology of Computer Programming (listed at the end as one of the "references"). Read this book; much of it is still very applicable decades later (and the exercise of translating it into modern terms makes you think and is valuable…
on “Cognitive Dissonance in Programming” ↗The Psychology of Computer Programming by Gerald M. Weinberg It's an old book but the most eye-opening one to me.
on “Ask HN: What language-agnostic programming books should I read?” ↗I probably ought to read this one. I got on a Weinberg reading kick after reading some recommendations here a few months before his death. The one I particularly liked was The Psychology of Computer Programming. While dated in many ways (like MMM), it has a lot of interesting ideas and discussion about the structure and behavior of people and teams (regardless of discipline, though he was writing about programmers).…
on “Books I recommend to my software engineering students” ↗The Psychology of Computer Programming by Gerald Weinberg. Some dated language (which he calls out himself in the 25th anniversary edition), but overall very good. A Philosophy of Software Design by John Ousterhout, short book, quick read.…
on “Ask HN: Best book for software engineers (besides the well-known ones)?” ↗Gerald Weinberg's The Psychology of Computer Programming is a classic, well worth reading. Also second the recommendations for The Mythical Man Month and Peopleware
on “Ask HN: What books or blogs do you suggest to manage a team of techies” ↗…Soul of a New Machine - Tracy Kidder * Fire in the Valley - Paul Freiberger and Michael Swaine * Hackers - Steve Levy * Commodore: A Company on the Edge - Brian Bagnall (get the second edition) * The Psychology of Computer Programming by Gerald M. Weinberg - for being written in 1971 (with an updated edition in 98) it is very interesting and still relevant. * Coders at Work: Reflections on the Craft of Programming by Peter Seibel -…
on “Ask HN: My Birthday's Tomorrow, I Need Book Recommendations” ↗The Psychology of Computer Programming. Gerald M. Weinberg 1971 and: The Soul of a New Machine Tracy Kidder 1981 ought to be required reading for anybody in tech.
on “Peter Naur has died” ↗The Psychology of Computer Programming by Gerald Weinberg. It considers programming as a human activity and introduces the concept of egoless programming.
on “Ask HN: What are the bibles of Computer Science?” ↗I've been reading The Psychology of Computer Programming recently and enjoying it quite a bit. One fun bit is each chapter ends with some questions for reflection -- both for programmers, and for managers. I laughed a bit at the end of the first chapter, where…
on “Companies consider abandoning open office layouts to prevent disease spread” ↗I keep going back to this quote from The Psychology of Computer Programming by Gerald Weinberg: > Fisher's Fundamental Theorem states—in terms appropriate to the present context—that the better adapted a system is to a particular environment, the less adaptable it is to new…
on “On Systemic Debt” ↗They don't buy any. On my own, I've bought, and lent Peopleware by DeMarco The Psychology of Computer Programming, Secrets of Consulting, and Becoming a Technical Expert by Gerald Weinberg. Not exactly fitting into the category, but worth reading if you can find it: Models of My Life by Herbert Simon. A co-worker…
on “Ask HN: What “soft skills” books does your company buy for developers and why?” ↗…a solo freelancer) I'm working directly with customers and solving business problems, using programming skills. I'm very familiar with the psychology of programming. Read the classics: Weinberg's The Psychology of Computer Programming, Tom DeMarco's Peopleware, Brooks' The Mythical Man-Month. Notice that those books are all about programming but not about languages. Alistair Cockburn studied programming success and failures and concluded…
on “Ask HN: Job prospects for pure C and C++ programmers?” ↗The Psychology of Computer Programming by Gerald Weinberg. There's a silver anniversary edition, that's the one to get. It has the author's commentary framing each chapter where he reflects on the contents.
on “Ask HN: Most interesting, mildly impractical, well-written books on software?” ↗The Elements of Programming Style by Kernighan and Plauger Software Tools by Kernighan and Plauger The Psychology of Computer Programming by Weinberg A cartoon-illustrated DIY Honda Civic repair book from the 80's I no longer remember the name of.
on “Ask HN: What are the most eye-opening textbooks you have ever read?” ↗The psychology of Computer Programming, Gerald Weinberg, 1971.
on “Ask HN: Most interesting, mildly impractical, well-written books on software?” ↗