Effective Java
Joshua Bloch
21 people recommended it in 15 threads, 2008–2025.
1 commenter pushed back on it — worth reading the threads.
What people on Hacker News said
'Effective Java' and 'Hardcore Java' (specifically the chapter on the Collections API) should be mandatory reading for Java developers as well so you may want to check those out once you get up to speed with the language.
Some of the learnings only apply to Java, but most apply to any language. All the tips are very focused on how the code, APIs and even the languages evolve, trying to understand how your changes could confuse other developers.
Effective Java. A very succinct collection of wonderful practices and ideas on how to code great software that you can finish in a couple of days, even if you are on a working schedule. Don't mind the "Java" in the title; I read the book regularly and it applies to pretty much any language capable of some OO.
I strongly suggest most junior programmers I work with to read Effective Java and Head First Design Patterns. To me, it's a great combination to help you write code that's easy to understand and maintain.
Where it comes up
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