Customer Reviews

The Tao of Programming

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

... But do not program in Cobol if you can avoid it. (from Chapter 1.2)

Thus spake the master programmer (Geoffery James).

I am both a follower of Tao and a programmer of more than 30 years experience. I am also a great fan of this book. It belongs on every programmer's bookshelf, right beside _The_Mythical_Man-Month_ and _The_Devil's_DP_Dictionary_

Just to drive the point home, here is Chapter 4.3 (I appeal to the "Fair Use" exclusion of the Copyright Law):

A master was explaining the nature of Tao to one of his novices. "The Tao is embodied in all software -- regardless of how insignificant," said the master.

"Is the Tao in a hand-held calculator?" asked the novice. "It is," came the reply.

"Is the Tao in a video game?" continued the novice. "It is even in a video game," said the master.

"And is the Tao in the DOS for a personal computer?" The master coughed and shifted his position slightly. "The lesson is over for today," he said.

With the other two books in this series, James does an excellent job of conveying many of the lessons of large software project management and software design in a series of short, accessible anecdotes which can be easily digested by someone who is just coming to the field, or who doesn't have the time and focus to really digest Brooks ("The Mythical Man-month") or Demarco/Lister ("Peopleware"). This set is concise and to-the-point, and a must have for the new project manager or project lead.

Found this book interesting....it is so small that i read it start to finish just before sleeping.

The Good:
Pretty straightforward....nicely explained principles with simpl examples

The Bad:
Falls short of completion. Too small a book.


Food for thought:
This book..however small it really is...should be read more than once to understand the deeper essence the author is trying to convey to you. If u just hover through it...you will certainly find it a "READ ONCE" material.

This little book is full of things you either know because you are the master, or are figuring out because you are the novice. All presented in a tongue-in-cheek style that I found very funny (and enlightening).

Some people may not find value in this book. Truly they are not at one with the Tao: "Master, it repeats things that are obvious and we all know, therefore it is of no value" "My young programmer, do you not appreciate fine paintings of landscapes, gardens and people? These have worth on many levels. So too with this author's teachings of the Tao. Are you not supposed to be in a code review right now?"

Get this book and enjoy it.

This book is a nice little read for programmers and philosophers. Not to be taken too seriously but a great buy at this price. Good bathrooom reading. Its like a "chicken soup for the soul book" for nerds.

'Thus spake the master programmer: "Let the programmers be many and the managers few -- then all will be productive."'

Gems like this are scattered throughout Geoffery James software survival manual. This book ranks with Brook's "Mythical Man Month" on the required reading list for anyone in the software industry. It is also one of the funniest books I've ever read.

James re-writes the ancient chinese "Tao Te Ching" as a guide on software development. This book will leave you breathless, both from so much laughing and from the wisdom in his succinct commentary on software. Geoffery James does what all great comedians do; he confronts us with the ridiculousness of everyday practice. If you've had any experience in the software trenches, you'll love this book and the trenchant illustration of the software industry.

The amazing thing is it doesn't just accurately point out flaws in a funny way, it leads you to the right way. This book is definitely worth more then one read through.

Be aware not to expect this book to be serious or to contain deep thougths; but instead, if you read it with an open mind, knowing that it tries to be humorous+smart more than it tries to be wise, you will find it a pleasant reading. Probably no experienced programmer will see anything he doesn't already know, but this won't prevent him from having a joyful reading - and a quick one, the book is very thin with just a few phrases per page.

BUT if you seek real deep knowledge or enligtenment, you should definitely look for another book.

This is an excellent book, I've enjoyed every single line on it. Simply great.

The book covers all the various aspects of programming, from design to coding, management, etc.. in a concise and funny way.

Each and every sentence is an invitation to further meditation and reasoning about its subject.

An intensive, thought provoking text, and a must read for any computer scientist.

It is an easy book to read and you should be able to complete the book in a sitting. The important components that surround the programmer is touched upon and reinforced with (really really) clever anecdotes. It's one of the shortest books I've read but undoubtedly one of the most inspirational. There's something for everyone in that book but a programmer such as myself would will find it more delightful to read than any other person.

One of the funniest books I've ever read. And amazingly poignant, as well. A must have for anyone who programs computers. When I'm stuck on a project, I reach for "Tao" and usually gain a little perspective.

It's expensive for a small book, but worth more than you paid for it.