More Programming Pearls: Confessions of a Coder: Confessions of a Coder

by Jon L. Bentley

What do topics ranging from organic chemistry to Napoleon's campaigns have to do with computer programming? This collection of essays demonstrates the many varied aspects of programming, showing how programming can be both a fun and elegant science.

Some of the essays cover programming techniques, like how profilers can provide insight into the dynamic behavior of programs, and methods for making data files self-describing. These techniques deal with real programs and they are realistically illustrated, using the C and Awk languages. Bentley also provides the reader with some tricks of the programmer's trade, like a collection of rules of thumb and hints for finding simple solutions to hard problems.

These essays also originally appeared in the author's column in Communication of the ACM, and have been substantially revised, incorporating new sections, problems, and reader comments.

Genres: Programming, Computer Science, Software, Nonfiction, Technical, Computers, Algorithms

218 pages, Paperback

First published January 11, 1988

Reviews

[Alex]

I really like Bentley's books. In my view, he hits the ideal middle ground between pragmatic engineering and rigorous science (OK, maybe he errs on the engineering side).

Parts I and IV, on programming techniques and algorithms, were particularly good. The pearls, while readable in one sitting, pack a lot of good ideas and insights if read carefully. Some of the exercises are an integral part of the text, so it's at least worth reading the solutions, even if you don't attempt to solve them yourself.

Even if it's not as strong as the first collection in the series, it's still well worth reading (and re-reading).

[Raghu Hudli]

A classic. Every programmer must read this book!

[Vignesh Venkat]

Jon Bentley is my favorite when it comes to algorithms books. Great sequel!

[Abdulfattah Popoola]

Preferred the first book a lot more.