Programming on Purpose: Essays on Software Design

by P.J. Plauger

A guided tour of numerous software design methods, this volume collects into book form a variety of articles from P.J. Plauger's monthly column Programming on Purpose which has been entertaining readers of Computer Language Magazine for years. Topics span the gamut from how to be a software entrepreneur, the innards of floating point arithmetic, and the turbulent world of software design methodologies, including structured analysis and data-structured design, why &;bottom-up&; design isn't always foolish, and why &;top-down&; design isn't always wise. For supplemental reading in an intermediate or advanced course on software design methods or software engineering, and for practicing programmers, software engineers, and specialists.

Genres: Programming, Computers, Technical

256 pages, Paperback

First published February 2, 1993

About the author

see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._J._Pl...

Phillip James Plauger is an author and entrepreneur. He has written and co-written articles and books about programming style, software tools, the C programming language, and science fiction short stories.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be a bit of a mixed bag. Some of the essays had good insights, some fell flat. It's worth a read even if only for the chapters on data flow and how it affects program structure.

[Max Galkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read, with a handful of brilliant observations and anecdotes about the state of the software craftsmanship of its time, but, alas, most of the design advices seem to be too outdated or overly specialized to the software applications of that era.

[Brian Grossman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11123598

[Janelle Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this book gives a lot of info on certain topics and I would give this book 5 stars