I’m thinking of building a definitive list of books on web development. Software development in general should not be forgotten, but the focus of the list would be in great web software development.
Only the best books would be listed so that the list could serve as an educational tool. This is why I am asking your help.
What are your favorites? Let me know in the comments! Books on specific server-side technologies are fine too, the list will be categorized.
Without too much thought, here is a short list of 20 books to get you started:
- RESTful Web Services
- Code Complete
- Don’t Make Me Think!
- Designing with Web Standards
- Letting Go of the Words
- Web Analytics: An Hour a Day
- High Performance Web Sites
- The Pragmatic Programmer
- Bulletproof Web Design
- Prioritizing Web Usability
- The Productive Programmer
- Pragmatic Thinking and Learning: Refactor Your Wetware
- Practices of an Agile Developer
- Clean Code
- Agile Software Development with Scrum
- Extreme Programming Explained
- Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code
- Implementation Patterns
- Agile Estimating and Planning
- Object Thinking
The last 10 books suggested by Sami Poimala, thanks! (I now have to actually read all those.)
Transcending CSS by Andy Clarke.
Thanks! I’ll be sure to check that out.
Do they have to be about implementation details? If not, Getting Real by 37signals is essential!
Anything useful for a web developer is fine. Great suggestion, Tommi!
Well, thanks to you. You’re the one who originally pointed me towards Signal vs. Noise… Basically in a way you’ve caused that I just ordered 50 copies of Getting Real and that we’re using Basecamp and Highrise extensively here @ Futurice.
I’ve been meaning to write up my own list of “Must read books” for a while now. “Web Analytics: An Hour a Day” and “Letting Go of the Words” sound very interesting! I’ll have to check them out, before I do :P
These came to mind: “Mobile Web Design” by Cameron Moll and “Javascript Performance Rocks” by Amy Hoy & Thomas Fuchs. They’re also available in digital form so we’re saving nature too:P
Aki, could you add authors to the list?
I will make a separate page for the list with authors, covers and short descriptions, once the list gets a little more complete.
Anyone knows more good JavaScript books? JavaScript: The Good Parts is supposed to be good, but probably not for beginners.
Aki: I personally liked the Eloquent Javascript e-book (http://eloquentjavascript.net/), but it might be too much for beginners:)
Beginning JavaScript with DOM Scripting and Ajax, From Novice to Professional by Christian Heilman is a very good read and it’s directed for beginner and intermediate level scripters/programmers.