The Art of Unix Programming
Eric S. Raymond
17 people recommended it in 9 threads, 2011–2022.
1 commenter pushed back on it — worth reading the threads.
What people on Hacker News said
"The Art of UNIX Programming" was certainly one of the most formative personally. It's more holistic than technical, but has changed me in a number of ways for the better.
“The Art of Unix Programming” TAOUP is something I wish I had read much earlier in my career. It’s non-technical, far more philosophical, and the very few parts where it wades into the technical side are outdated. That said, what it does is a great job of embodying the sort of Zen of the Unix ethos.
I'm still trying to achieve everything he advocates, but what I've managed so far has been extremely beneficial.
I'll second The Art of Unix Programming - despite the title, it has many broad programming and software architecture lessons, and "The Unix Philosophy" is applicable far beyond Unix.
TAOUP has a lot of good content about Unix programming styles and traditions, much of it useful generally. ESR's writing style is a bit heavy / verbose / uses verbal flourishes, but if you can let that not put you off, the book is worth reading.
SICP, The Art Of Unix Programming and The Little Schemer are on the list. Those are the only books I've read that actually influenced my approach to program design.
Art of Unix programming - amazing book, lots of "ah-ha" moments. Enlightening is the word I suppose.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: What language-agnostic programming books should I read? 2017 · 7 recommendations
- Ask HN: The book that did it for you in math and/or CS? 2022 · 2 recommendations
- What is the single most influential book every programmer should read? 2011 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Computer Science/History Books? 2020 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What are the most fundamental books on computer science? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Books you read in 2018? 2018 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What books had the greatest effect on how you structure your code? 2017 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What are the books that changed the perspective of your life? 2015 · 1 recommendation
- Must Read CS Books For Self Self-Taught Programmers 2011 · 1 recommendation