Summaries of books about Computers & Technology:
The Master Algorithm
How the Quest for the Ultimate Learning Machine Will Remake Our World
Pedro Domingos
The book explores the concept of a universal machine learning algorithm, which the author refers to as the "Master Algorithm," capable of deriving all knowledge from data. It delves into the five main schools of thought in machine learning, their approaches to developing algorithms, and the potential impact such a unifying algorithm could have on various aspects of society and industry.
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Mythical Man-Month, The
Essays on Software Engineering, Anniversary Edition
Frederick P. Brooks Jr.
The book presents a series of essays on software project management and the complexities of software engineering, highlighting the challenges of coordinating team efforts and the fallacy of assuming that adding manpower to a late software project will speed it up, famously summarized as "Brooks's law." It also discusses the importance of conceptual integrity in system design and the value of building systems incrementally.
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Java
The Complete Reference, Eleventh Edition
Herbert Schildt
This comprehensive guide covers the entire Java language, including its syntax, keywords, and fundamental programming principles. It also delves into the Java API library, software development, and the use of JavaBeans, servlets, applets, and Swing for creating sophisticated applications.
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Effective Java
Joshua Bloch
The book provides a comprehensive guide to best practices for the Java programming language, offering practical advice on language and library features through a series of detailed, specific recommendations. It covers topics such as object creation, generics, enums, lambdas, and concurrency, aiming to help Java developers write clearer, more robust, and more efficient code.
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User Story Mapping
Discover the Whole Story, Build the Right Product
Jeff Patton|Peter Economy
The book provides a guide to using story mapping, a collaborative technique that helps teams visualize the user's journey with a product to prioritize and create a shared understanding of user needs. It offers practical advice on breaking down complex projects into manageable user stories, ensuring that development efforts align with customer value and business goals.
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Pragmatic Programmer, The
From Journeyman to Master
Hunt Andrew|Thomas David
The book provides practical advice and techniques for software developers to enhance their craft, covering topics such as code construction, debugging, refactoring, and team dynamics. It emphasizes the importance of a pragmatic approach to problem-solving, advocating for adaptability, critical thinking, and the continuous improvement of one's programming skills.
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JavaScript
The Definitive Guide: Master the World's Most-Used Programming Language
David Flanagan
The book serves as a comprehensive guide to the JavaScript programming language, covering everything from basic syntax to advanced features like asynchronous programming and the Document Object Model (DOM). It provides both a detailed reference for experienced developers and clear explanations for those new to the language, with examples and practical advice for building web applications.
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Machine Learning For Absolute Beginners
A Plain English Introduction
O Theobald
The book serves as an introductory guide to machine learning, explaining fundamental concepts and algorithms in an accessible language without requiring a background in mathematics or programming. It covers data preprocessing, simple linear regression, and decision trees, among other topics, and includes practical examples and illustrations to help beginners understand and apply machine learning techniques.
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The Soul of A New Machine
Tracy Kidder
The book chronicles the experiences of a computer engineering team racing to design a next-generation minicomputer at Data General Corporation in the late 1970s. It delves into the technical challenges, personal sacrifices, and intense pressures involved in the innovative process of creating new computer hardware.
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Game Programming Patterns
Robert Nystrom
The book explores design patterns and best practices for writing efficient and maintainable game code, providing insights into software architecture in the context of game development. It covers various programming challenges unique to games and presents solutions that can be adapted to different game engines and programming languages.
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