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The Self-taught Programmer

The Definitive Guide to Programming Professionally
3.96 goodreads logo

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( 961 ratings, 92 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Self-taught Programmer by Cory Althoff is a comprehensive guide for those aspiring to learn programming independently, aimed at beginners who want to build a solid foundation in coding. The book covers essential concepts in Python, computer science fundamentals, web development basics, and strategies for tackling job interviews in tech. Designed to bridge the gap from novice to proficient coder, it equips readers with practical skills and a structured learning path.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're keen to embark on a coding journey with a structured, self-guided approach. It's ideal for those looking to build programming skills independently, with practical exercises and real-world applications that make learning both accessible and engaging. This resource is perfect for beginner programmers eager to break into the tech industry without a formal computer science background.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A beginner's guide to coding that will teach you everything you need to know to program professionally, from writing your first Python program, to passing your first technical interview.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

One of the best software design books of all time - BookAuthority

Cory Althoff is a self-taught programmer. After a year of self-study, he learned to program well enough to land a job as a software engineer II at eBay. But once he got there, he realised he was severely under-prepared. He was overwhelmed by the amount of things he needed to know but hadn't learned. His journey learning to program, and his experience in his first software engineering job, were the inspiration for this book.

This book is not just about learning to program, although you will learn to code. If you want to program professionally, it is not enough to learn to code; that is why, in addition to helping you learn to program, Althoff also covers the rest of the things you need to know to program professionally that classes and books don't teach you. The Self-taught Programmer is a roadmap, a guide to take you from writing your first Python program to passing your first technical interview.

The book is divided into five sections:

  • Learn to program in Python 3 and build your first program.
  • Learn object-oriented programming and create a powerful Python program to get you hooked.
  • Learn to use tools like Git, Bash and regular expressions. Then use your new coding skills to build a web scraper.
  • Study computer science fundamentals like data structures and algorithms.
  • Finish with best coding practices, tips for working with a team, and advice on landing a programming job.

You can learn to program professionally. The path is there. Will you take it?

From the author

I spent one year writing The Self-Taught Programmer. It was an exciting and rewarding experience. I treated my book like a software project. After I finished writing it, I created a program to pick out all of the code examples from the book and execute them in Python to make sure all 300+ examples worked properly. Then I wrote software to add line numbers and colour to every code example. Finally, I had a group of 200 new programmers 'beta read' the book to identify poorly explained concepts and look for any errors my program missed.

I hope you learn as much reading my book as I did writing it. Best of luck with your programming!

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Self-taught Programmer is praised for its practicality and accessibility in training individuals to become professional programmers. It's recommended by industry professionals for those seeking a career in programming, and it's noted for making complex topics enjoyable to read, with endorsements highlighting its impact across various fields, including technology and finance.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781472147103

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 13 January 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Robinson

Illustration: Integrated illustrations/screenshots throughout, to be cleared for use in UK edition.

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 232.0mm

Weight: 460g

Pages: 368

About the Author

Cory Althoff is an executive and author whose work includes The Self-Taught Programmer and The Self-Taught Computer Scientist. After graduating from Clemson University with a major in political science, he taught himself to program, eventually becoming a software engineer at eBay. His books have been translated into eight languages, and he has been featured in publications like Forbes and CNBC. Cory is a senior vice president at CompTIA, the leading IT certification provider for the technology industry and its workforce.

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