Code That Fits in Your Head: Heuristics for Software Engineering

Mark Seemann's book "Code That Fits in Your Head" provides practical techniques for writing sustainable and human-friendly code. It guides programmers from zero to deployed features, addressing cross-cutting concerns, troubleshooting, and optimizing. The book offers valuable ideas, practices, and processes for key issues, including checklists, teamwork, encapsulation, decomposition, API design, and unit testing.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2021
Publisher: Pearson Education (US)

Mark Seemann, a renowned expert in explaining complex concepts with clarity, has authored a comprehensive guide to writing sustainable and human-friendly code. In this book, he distills his extensive software development expertise into practical techniques for creating efficient and effective code. Whether you are a seasoned programmer or just starting your journey, Code That Fits in Your Head is a must-read for anyone seeking to improve their coding skills.

The book begins by offering valuable insights into the importance of reducing code complexity and developing software more sustainably. Seemann explains that excessive complexity can lead to projects that become unmanageable, delay delivery, and negatively impact the development team's productivity. By adopting a systematic approach to writing code, programmers can maintain a good cruising speed while adding functionality and addressing cross-cutting concerns.

Throughout the book, Seemann guides readers from zero (no code) to deployed features, providing practical advice for every stage of the software development process. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a clean and well-structured codebase, using appropriate design patterns and methodologies, and incorporating best practices for code maintenance and optimization. Seemann also addresses key issues such as teamwork, encapsulation, decomposition, API design, and unit testing, offering valuable ideas, practices, and processes for improving these aspects of software development.

To enhance the reader's understanding, the book is written in C#, a widely used object-oriented language. The code examples provided are clear, concise, and designed to be useful to programmers who use other object-oriented languages, such as Java, C++, and Python. Additionally, all code and extensive commit messages are available for download, allowing readers to delve deeper into the topics discussed and apply the techniques to their own projects.

One of the standout features of Code That Fits in Your Head is its focus on mindset and process. Seemann encourages programmers to choose mindsets and processes that work for them, rather than relying on generic methodologies that may not be effective in every situation. He also discourages the use of bad metaphors that can lead to confusion and unnecessary complexity in code. By adopting a practical and problem-solving approach, programmers can overcome analysis paralysis and create and deploy a vertical slice of their application, which serves as a starting point for further development.

Another valuable aspect of the book is its emphasis on counteracting forces that lead to code rot and unnecessary complexity. Seemann identifies common factors that contribute to code degradation, such as lack of documentation, poor communication, and overreliance on frameworks and libraries. He provides practical strategies for addressing these issues, such as using version control systems, writing comprehensive documentation, and fostering effective communication within the development team.

In conclusion, Mark Seemann's Code That Fits in Your Head is a comprehensive and practical guide to writing sustainable and human-friendly code. Whether you are a seasoned programmer or just starting your journey, this book offers invaluable insights, ideas, and processes for reducing code complexity, improving code quality, and developing software more efficiently. By adopting the mindset and processes outlined in this book, programmers can create code that is clear, maintainable, and scalable, and contribute to the success of their projects and organizations.

Weight: 704g
Dimension: 180 x 231 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780137464401