My Bookshelf
Some of the books that have kept me company on my journey so far.
2025
2 books
Tidy First?
by Kent Beck
A great little book that's perfect for a quick read. It offers a practical summary of various techniques for cleaning up your codebase, covering not just how to refactor, but also when and how much to clean up (refactor) . It's especially valuable for those starting with legacy code. I’d recommend reading this before diving into the Clean Code Book if you're early in your career. The writing style can be a bit challenging at times, but overall, it's a solid resource.
Clean Architecture: A Craftsman's Guide to Software Structure and Design: A Craftsman's Guide to Software Structure and Design
by Robert C. Martin
Good book that does not align with any specialized architecture school. It covers architecture on a principle level, like coupling and cohesion, SOLID, detail and abstraction. With stories from his past the author paints pictures of distributed systems and shares experiences from the past. It shares what architecture and design is all about (saving money!) and how to communicate it so others see the need.
2024
2 books
Head First Design Patterns: Building Extensible and Maintainable Object-Oriented Software
by Eric Freeman and Elisabeth Robson
An outstanding resource for learning design patterns. The book covers the most common patterns and presents them in an accessible, memorable way. Each chapter introduces 1-2 patterns, explained through a mix of explanations, role-playing dialogues, coding examples, and practical exercises. It feels more like a textbook than a reference guide, making it ideal for structured learning. If you're seeking something more like a traditional pattern dictionary, check out Martin Fowler's Patterns of Enterprise Application Architecture.
Continuous Discovery Habits: Discover Products that Create Customer Value and Business
by Teresa Torres
Very good book (also for developers). The author provides practical techniques and clear guidance on how to engage with users and uncover their true needs . The book introduces the concept of the "holy trinity" (PM-DEV-UX) to streamline product development cycles. It also offers a guide to conducting effective user interviews.
2022
1 book
Clean Code
by Robert C. Martin
Good book for starting in your career. Wouldn't recommend it if you are just starting out. Read it while working on passion project and try to implement as much of it as you can to feel the gain but also the pain of working by clean code. Not recommended if you are still in tutorial land.