"Code complete" is the phrase used by programmers to announce the completion of a software program. Drawing its examples from a variety of computer languages, this book focuses on programming technique rather than the requirements of a specific programming language or environment. Steve McConnell developed True Type and Windows for the Microsoft Corporation. Topics include: front-end planning, applying good design techniques to construction, using data effectively, using common and advanced control structures, secrets of self-documenting code, testing and debugging techniques, improving performance with code tuning, managing construction activities, and relating personal character to the development of superior software.
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A modern-day classic on software engineering, Code Complete focuses on specific practices you can use to improve your code and your ability to debug it--and ultimately deliver better, more efficient programs in less time. With every bit of advice the book proffers you'll improve your ability to write elegant, self-documenting, maintainable software. McConnell doesn't focus on the idiosyncrasies of any single language, but on the general issues developers face: naming subroutines and variables in meaningful ways, designing control structures, finding and correcting errors in code, and many, many more. Code Complete is packed with code samples demonstrating good and bad programming practices and checklists that you can use to vet your own work.
From the author's preface: "My primary concern in writing this book has been to narrow the gap between the knowledge of industry gurus and professors on one hand and common commercial practice on the other. Although leading-edge software-development practice has advanced rapidly in recent years, common practice hasn't. Many programs are still buggy, late, and over budget, and many fail to satisfy the needs of users. The research and programming experience collected in this book will help you to create high-quality software and do your work more quickly and with fewer problems."
From the publisher: "Whatever your background--experienced developer, self-taught programmer, or programming student--this ingeniously organised handbook contains state-of-the-art information that can help you write better programs in less time with fewer headaches. Code Complete is not a panacea, but it is an encyclopedic treatment of software construction, the most important part of the software-development cycle. It contains some 500 examples of code (good and bad) and includes ready-to-use checklists to help you assess your architecture, design approach, and module and routine quality.
Perhaps most important of all, Code Complete provides a larger perspective on the software-development process and the role of construction in the process that will inform and stimulate your thinking about your own projects, enabling you to take strategic action rather than fight the same battles again and again.
The concepts discussed in Code Complete are applicable to any procedural language in any computing environment. --Amazon.com
From the Publisher
'We were impressed by Code Complete...a pleasure to read, either straight through or as a reference. An invaluable $35 reference.' — PC Week. This runaway bestseller is a practical guide to software design that discusses the art and science of constructing software. Examples are provided in C, Pascal, Basic, Fortran, and Ada, but the focus is on successful programming techniques.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
The subtitle of McConnell's book is "A Practical Handbook of Software Construction". I have found that it lives up to this claim excellently. Like Brook's classic "The Mythical Man-Month" Code Complete offers practical advice on the real-world challenges of software development. Code Complete contains 33 chapters, which can be read as separate essays.
To entry-level programmers and computer science students, this book is an excellent primer on the fundamentals of the industry. For experienced programmers, this book is an great way to review your own development strategies and best practices. For project managers, Code Complete serves as a great source of ideas for process improvement, as well as a great learning tool to pass on to new entry-level hires. My employer has used several chapters out of Code Complete as the basis for discussion topics.
McConnell writes in an easy-to-read, entertaining style that has made him one of the most popular authors in the field. His book "Rapid Development", is also an extremely popular book on software development, and many (including me) are anxiously awaiting his next work, "Software Project Survivial Guide".
In short, Code Complete belongs in the library of every serious developer.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Buy this book only if you are SERIOUS about programming. Because if you're not, you'll never get through it.
McConnell's book is an exhaustive guide to the nitty-gritty details of programming. There are entire CHAPTERS devoted to choosing names for variables, and dozens of pages covering every style of indenting since 1950. I am devouring programming books for my future career, and I am glad that I got this book. It covers all aspects of the design and coding process, with a heavy emphasis on readability and maintainability. It helped me to correct some bad coding practices that I developed.
I was most impressed by the references. McConnell has drawn together hundreds of papers, articles, and books written since the 60s and digested them all for you in this compact volume. He frequently quotes statistics and studies to support his claims. (Indenting lines 3-5 spaces boosts comprehension by 68%, but indenting by 6 or more spaces decreases it by 32%)
I got a real chuckle on his advice about how to deal with bosses who want to see code during the planning stages -- get printouts from previous projects and leave them around your desk, then lie!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Titled "Code Complete", McConnell's book is the definitive reference on the phase between requirements definition and pure testing. This is a book that should actually be Required Reading for programmers; some sections of it should be tattooed on the forehead of anyone wanting to manage a development team.
After touching on requirements and specs, the author goes through the various topics that merit a developer's interest, including routine design, quality assurance, and anything you might think of. Yet he does not dictate; McConnell presents hard data why you should adopt some methodology, and then offers you a selection of methods, but he never claims that his view is the only correct one.
This alone distinguishes him positively from the likes of Booch, Rumbaugh, Jacobson and so on, who peddle their books to further their seminar operations.
The author's reading list and the annotated bibliography alone are worth the price.
By the way, to use this book most effectively, leave it lying around ... until one of your co-workers snarfs it. Then, leave another copy lying around. Repeat until your environment is fully saturated and keep a final copy to yourself. (I went, since 1993, through eleven copies of "Code Complete", and the pay-off was worth it!)
After touching on requirements and specs, the author goes through the various topics that merit a developer's interest, including routine design, quality assurance, and anything you might think of. Yet he does not dictate; McConnell presents hard data why you should adopt some methodology, and then offers you a selection of methods, but he never claims that his view is the only correct one.
This alone distinguishes him positively from the likes of Booch, Rumbaugh, Jacobson and so on, who peddle their books to further their seminar operations.
The author's reading list and the annotated bibliography alone are worth the price.
By the way, to use this book most effectively, leave it lying around ... until one of your co-workers snarfs it. Then, leave another copy lying around. Repeat until your environment is fully saturated and keep a final copy to yourself. (I went, since 1993, through eleven copies of "Code Complete", and the pay-off was worth it!)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb book
This book is a fantastic introduction to 'c' programming and if you have programmed before in another language then this book is ideal in aiding the transistion.
Published 4 months ago by A. Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
!tl;dr - short review
for anyone who wants a quick view (i.e. not tl;dr)
If you write software you MUST read this book!
If you write software you MUST read this book!
Published on 4 Oct 2010 by CodeMonkey
3.0 out of 5 stars
Let down by poor examples
This book is jam-packed with useful guidance and information. Unfortunately, the examples given are both few in number and rather obscure, which is as surprising as it is... Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2008 by S. A
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's The Bible
Read this and your coding will be right first time more often more defensively programmed when it does go wrong, simpler (! Read more
Published on 27 May 2008 by JDPLATTEN
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best in its class, perhaps the ONLY book in its class?
There are many great books on how to design software, there are many great books on how to manage software projects and the are thousands of books on programming and programming... Read more
Published on 24 Sep 2003 by "steve_a_h"
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good in it's day, now rather dated.
I'm not knocking 2 stars off due to any problems with the quality of this book. No, indeed I wish I'd read it when I was starting out 10 years ago. Read more
Published on 13 Sep 2002
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting read and very useful for software development
The books covers a wide range of topics on software construction. It is easy to read. The points it makes are sometimes common sense but nevertheless comprehensive and can be used... Read more
Published on 25 July 2002 by Y. Kuo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb!
If you aim to becoming a Top Class Programmer, you MUST have (and read!) this book, no matter how many thousands lines of code you have written already...
Published on 22 Jun 2002 by Giuseppe C.
2.0 out of 5 stars
Too old and too little substance
As a professional programmer I am always trying to improve my skills and knowledge of what good code is. Therefor I bought this book. Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2002 by Normann Aaboe Nielsen
5.0 out of 5 stars
EXELLENT
This is a book that should be read by not only developers but also managers who work with developers! Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2002 by Jaan Klouman
Listmania!
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