Reading is still one of the key learning ways among software developers. While working from home during the pandemic, SOFTECH software developers shared their current reading lists and here we came up with a nice book shelf! It is also important to understand why software developers choose reading as one of the main self improvement and understanding enhancement tools.
This Month: An Exploratory Reading List From Our Software Developers
Since we all have been working from home, our active fun team tries to think out ways of keeping our software developers connected on a more informal level too. Fun was and is always important. Reading is also important but can also get really serious!
One would expect that we bring a traditional „Recommended Reading for Software Developers” list, but…NO! We are real people, coding all day, since the first office day and before, therefore we must also mind our brains to seek new knowledge, new ideas, new structures, new ideas.
The stack selected for the online SOFTECH Book Shelf is an incursion in the realms of fantasy worlds, of mind structures, of daily habits, of world’s history, of humanity and carries us through the exploration of nature and our own existance.
Jus to give you a few examples: „The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg, „The Memory Illusion” by dr. Julia Shaw, „Imago” by Ljudmila Ulickaja, „Figure Drawing & Anatamoy for The Artist”by John Raynes, „The Ecology Book” – Tony Juniper & Co, „Year One” by Nora Roberts or „Homo Deus” by Yuval Noah Harari.
We could not hold back from bringing on the list:
– the legendary Uncle Bob’s “Clean Architecture: A Craftsman’s Guide to Software Structure and Design” by Robert C. Martin – an essential reading for every current or aspiring software architect, systems analyst, system designer, and software manager and for every programmer who must execute someone else’s designs.
And ….
– probably one of the revolutionary books on usability up to this day: “Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve Krug, which we recommend for basically anyone interested on the topic: technical, non-technical, user, developer, manager, creative or anything else.
Why Reading is Essential for Software Developers
For the knowledge. As for any human on Earth, reading is an endless source of knowledge and it helps you acquire new information. It basically keeps your brain powered up. Cognitive stimulation is the main key to constant brain development.
Reading also relives stress. This is mainly true when you change topics from your daily routine. Let yourself carried away in the middle of the story and transpose yourself in the fantastic worlds that your books open to your mind.
Reading enhances focus and concentration. Books do not allow to browse or navigate endlessly among subjects, topics and themes. One book, one key theme. Yes. This is so true and so useful when you think that you actually want to acquire new knowledge, and get in-depth insights on one subject. Immerse yourself in the details and you will stand with new understanding.
Reading improves analytical thinking. While you read and tend to finish the book, you start forming ideas and opinions about how the characters evolve, about the plot, abut who made have done something in another way. You can also enjoy or not the way the author has built phrases and paragraphs. The best is when you get the chance to speak with someone about the book and express your own critique.
In the end, Easter Holidays are close, WFH (working from home) will still last here in Romania, therefore, dear software developers, mind your health and your brain!
Should you be interested in learning more about our team or joining us, just drop us an e-mail.
