Top 10 Software Engineering Books to Read to Improve Your Skills [US]

Software engineering and development is an ever-growing subject. Even if you have completed your academic studies, there is still plenty of scope to learn and develop yourself as a software engineer. Various software engineering books can help you in this regard. 

Whether you are a fresher or an experienced software engineer, the excellent software books discussed in this piece are potent enough to sharpen your software skills further. Whether a budding learner or a professional developer, the list has something for everyone, so keep reading to find your best pick.

Top 10 Software Engineering Books

With exponential technological growth, there is an increase in the demand for constant improvement of software skills. Software development books can be the best source of knowledge to update your skills. So, let’s explore! 

1. Clean Code

This is the first book on our list, written by the legend of the software world, Robert C. Martin. He is popularly known as ‘Uncle Bob’ and is famous for many classic software engineering books such as The Clean Coder and The Clean Architect. He has received many accolades and recognition for his immense contribution to the software world.

Clean Code is a must-read for every software enthusiast who wants to build a career in the software world. This book teaches its readers the basics of coding. It helps you to learn easy-to-maintain codes. By reading this book, you will also learn to write and create readable and clean codes, just as its name suggests. 

2. The Pragmatic Programmer

This book is another outstanding read that covers multiple elements of the software world and is written by the famous technical authors Andrew Hunt and David Thomas. Many universities and institutions have included this book in their curriculum to extend quality software development skills among learners.

Ditching the traditional theoretical approach like generic software development books, this one heavily focuses on the practical approach. The Pragmatic Programmer helps you understand how crucial practical methods are for a software engineer and how integral the implementation of these methods is for the development process.

Besides conceptual knowledge, each chapter introduces you to a set of practice tests so you can practice your inherited knowledge after completing each chapter. This book, however, has two editions; the first edition was published in 1999 and contains outdated chapters, and the second edition was published in 2019 and focuses more on recent software developments. We recommend getting the latest version to stay aligned with the in-demand skills. 

Check our US - Data Science Programs

3. The Mythical Man-Month

The Mythical Man Month is another best-selling software development book written by Fredrick Brooks, which predominantly highlights the thought-provoking and philosophical aspects of software development.

This book’s main idea is the Brooks Law, which is self-authored and explained by Fredrick Brooks himself. The law states that “adding manpower to a late software project makes it later”. The central idea of this book revolves around project management, and it teaches you the various aspects, principles, and methods of project management.

Learn data science courses online from the World’s top Universities. Earn Executive PG Programs, Advanced Certificate Programs, or Masters Programs to fast-track your career.

4. Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code

Refactoring is an old but very important software development book by Martin Fowler. The central idea of this book is based on the theme of restructuring and rearing codes without changing their characteristics and behavior.

It is a comprehensive text that upholds the concept of refactoring with relevant practical examples. The second edition of this book, published in 2018, has updated instances of the theories and applications.

Refactoring is an integral concept for software developers and engineers. Hence, this book is highly recommended for software enthusiasts in order to write better and more convenient codes in the future.

5. Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software

Software developers often overlook domain design and modeling. This book by the famous software author Eric Evans highlights the concept of domain modeling. 

Software engineers often use domain modeling, but it lacks better-quality tools. This particular book by Eric Evans is one of the best software books that grant you insights into software designs using suitable modeling tools. It further assists you in solving domain-specific problems. Domain-Driven Design consists of multiple real-life examples of software projects so you can better understand the development fundamentals, techniques, and best practices.

6. Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction

Code Complete, written by Steve McConnel, can be considered to be one of the quintessential software books in the era of development. This book teaches the most relevant lessons you must know as a software enthusiast. Code Complete can easily be referred to as the guidebook to coding, following its detailed narrative on fundamentals to advanced coding techniques. It is a perfect reference material for fresher and experienced developers, leading to effective coding practices.

7. Working Effectively With Legacy Code

Legacy codes basically mean old codes that a software engineer has to improve and update from time to time. This book by Michael Feathers is one of the best sources through which you can learn about updating and improvising old codes. 

It is essential to work with legacy codes, and it proves to be very effective in writing new codes. This is a must-read for people who want to learn to untangle old codes and improve them.

8. Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams

Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister’s Peopleware is the most famous book when it comes to developing the soft skills of software developers. It highlights aspects like leadership, communication, and team management that are critical parameters of project management.

If you are responsible for team management, you should not miss out on this book. Project management is a very responsible job that requires a specific set of qualities, and this book aims to offer proficiency in the same. With ample practical examples and tips, the book is bound to influence you positively, improving your leadership skills toward overall organizational growth.

9. Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software

Code is a book that teaches you the computer fundamentals of software and hardware. It is best suited for beginners and is one of the best software engineering books on the market.

Code is fuelled by the knowledge and concepts of operating systems and memory processors. Code is a delightful read, comprising the perfect balance of computer hardware and software knowledge. Its detailed understanding of computer technology at its core would enable you to appreciate the logical system and its creators even more. 

10. Cracking The Coding Interview

The list of the best software books is incomplete without this masterpiece by Gayle Laakmann McDowell. This book can be your go-to resource for whatever technical and non-technical information you may need to ace a software development interview. This book follows a question-answer format consisting of the most popular and relevant questions from coding interviews. A total of 150 questions are given in this book with its best solution.

Cracking The Coding Interview is highly technical and is generally recommended for software professionals with prior education or experience.

Conclusion

The field of software development can be exceptionally rewarding if you find the right book aligned with your field of interest. While the internet and the vast availability of web-based educational content can support your coding career, a good book will enable you to find your actual interest, taking you through different facets of development.

Besides a good book, if you are determined to study and make a future in the software world, you should take a look at upGrad’s Master of Science in Data Science course. Offered under the guidance of the University of Arizona, this course is specially prepared for graduates and working professionals to fuel their careers toward better job opportunities.