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The Passionate Programmer: Creating a Remarkable Career in Software Development (Pragmatic Life) 1st Edition, Kindle Edition

by Chad Fowler (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 518 ratings

Success in today's IT environment requires you to view your career as a business endeavor. In this book, you'll learn how to become an entrepreneur, driving your career in the direction of your choosing. You'll learn how to build your software development career step by step, following the same path that you would follow if you were building, marketing, and selling a product. After all, your skills themselves are a product.

The choices you make about which technologies to focus on and which business domains to master have at least as much impact on your success as your technical knowledge itself--don't let those choices be accidental. We'll walk through all aspects of the decision-making process, so you can ensure that you're investing your time and energy in the right areas.

You'll develop a structured plan for keeping your mind engaged and your skills fresh. You'll learn how to assess your skills in terms of where they fit on the value chain, driving you away from commodity skills and toward those that are in high demand. Through a mix of high-level, thought-provoking essays and tactical "Act on It" sections, you will come away with concrete plans you can put into action immediately. You'll also get a chance to read the perspectives of several highly successful members of our industry from a variety of career paths.

As with any product or service, if nobody knows what you're selling, nobody will buy. We'll walk through the often-neglected world of marketing, and you'll create a plan to market yourself both inside your company and to the industry in general.

Above all, you'll see how you can set the direction of your career, leading to a more fulfilling and remarkable professional life.

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  1. ISBN-10
    9781937785406
  2. ISBN-13
    978-1937785406
  3. Edition
    1st
  4. Publisher
    Pragmatic Bookshelf
  5. Publication date
    May 28, 2009
  6. Part of series
    Pragmatic Life
  7. Language
    English
  8. File size
    1.1 MB
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  3. The Pragmatic Programmers publishes hands-on, practical books on classic and cutting-edge software development and engineering management topics. We help professionals solve real-world problems, hone their skills, and advance their careers.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

""Chad Fowler presents a set of no-nonsense heuristics, disciplines, and attitudes that will teach you how to respect and love your profession--and be great at it."" - Bob Martin, President Object Mentor, Inc.

""This book is solid GOLD! There may be hope for our "unprofession" after all! More power to you!"" - Bruce Langenbach, Independent Agile Software Entrepreneur and Passionate IT Consultant

About the Author

Chad Fowler is co-director of Ruby Central, Inc., and remains an active, driving force in the Ruby community.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00AYQNR5U
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pragmatic Bookshelf; 1st edition (May 28, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 28, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.1 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 252 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 518 ratings

About the author

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Chad Fowler

Chad Fowler

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Chad Fowler is an internationally known software developer, trainer, manager, speaker, and musician. Over the past decade he has worked with some of the world’s largest companies and most admired software developers.

Chad is VP of Engineering at LivingSocial. He is co-organizer of RubyConf and RailsConf and author or co-author of a number of popular software books, including The Passionate Programmer: Creating a Remarkable Career in Software Development.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
518 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides practical advice about career improvement and is well-written with concise content. They appreciate the inspirational stories and consider it a fun read, with one customer noting it contains direct action plans. The book receives mixed feedback about its value for money, though many find it worth the cost. One customer mentions it covers a lot of different subjects, while another finds it less interesting for experienced developers.

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58 customers mention "Advice"58 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very helpful, providing practical advice about career improvement and serving as a good motivator for crafting successful programming careers.

"...complete coverage of every aspect of one's career, from bettering yourself as an individual to bettering yourself for the people you work for, and..." Read more

"The Passionate Programmer is a good and useful book, especially for people who are early on in their programming career and wondering what and how..." Read more

"...3. Keep your passion for programming alive, and growing. 4. Advance your career either at your job, or on your own. 5...." Read more

"...Chad offers useful tips on how to improve personal productivity within one’s current place of employment, expand industry knowledge and confidence..." Read more

28 customers mention "Readability"28 positive0 negative

Customers find the book enjoyable to read, describing it as a casual and fun experience.

"...career presents the information in a non-condescending, enjoyable way that feels like you're being guided by a trusted mentor...." Read more

"The Passionate Programmer is a good and useful book, especially for people who are early on in their programming career and wondering what and how..." Read more

"...It is filled with excellent advice, and is truly a pleasure to read...." Read more

"...Not much bad about this book! It’s a light and casual read and I highly recommend it for any Software Engineer who is just starting out their career..." Read more

15 customers mention "Inspirational stories"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspirational, with one customer highlighting its insightful personal experiences and helpful anecdotes.

"...negative opinion on the quality of the content either, as each chapter provides complete, yet practical and concise, advice and information on the..." Read more

"...It also provide short practical stories from experiences of world know entrepreneurs / developers that add to the effect that the lessons are not..." Read more

"...links to other resources and places to take action. - Solid personal stories and tone make this very readable...." Read more

"...This book is both inspirational and pragmatic (as the name of the publisher would imply)...." Read more

14 customers mention "Writing quality"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well written and easy to read, appreciating its concise format. One customer notes that the author speaks from personal experiences.

"...content either, as each chapter provides complete, yet practical and concise, advice and information on the topic at hand...." Read more

"...It is a very easy read as the tips are reasonably independent do you can just read one in about 5-10 minutes each day (or on a bus ride or so)...." Read more

"...Each chapter is short and the book is laid out in such a way to make it difficult to put down...." Read more

"...The book is very well written in small chapters that are self contained, attack directly the subject and provide follow up actions so that you can..." Read more

4 customers mention "Actionable tips"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the actionable tips in the book, with one customer highlighting the direct action plans and another noting the focus on taking action.

"...that are self contained, attack directly the subject and provide follow up actions so that you can track your progress...." Read more

"...Reasons you may find this particular book useful: - Focus on taking action, Tips are followed by concrete recommendations on ways to take..." Read more

"...work that encourages you to ignite your passion for craft through actionable tips and helpful anecdotes...." Read more

"...written, not only questions your career choices, but also contains direct action plans which should lead the reader to a more successful and..." Read more

3 customers mention "Coverage"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the comprehensive coverage of the book, with one customer noting it covers various aspects of software development.

"...Chad provides complete coverage of every aspect of one's career, from bettering yourself as an individual to bettering yourself for the people you..." Read more

"...It's well written and covers a lot of the things that get glossed over in similar books, like the importance of visibility and marketing yourself..." Read more

"This book is definitely a nice and light read. It covers a lot of different subjects (from self improvement to "how to market yourself") in Software..." Read more

10 customers mention "Value for money"5 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's value for money, with some finding it worth the purchase while others disagree.

"...2. Maximize your time and money by treating your programming time like a business. 3. Keep your passion for programming alive, and growing...." Read more

"...if you read that book already (like me) then this book is definitively not worth it (unless you want to re-read it, like I did)...." Read more

"...But still, it's definitely worth the money...." Read more

"...Too many of the tips are semi-inaccurate or irrelevant and the book is heavily focused on the corporate environment...." Read more

3 customers mention "Interest"0 positive3 negative

Customers find the book uninteresting, with one mentioning that the first part was boring and another noting it's less engaging for experienced developers.

"...It would probably be less interesting for experienced developers and don't read it if you already read the "My Job Went To India Book"...." Read more

"First part was a bit boring, but second half was interesting and inspiring. I made a few notes to myself :)" Read more

"...From the beginning, the book failed to pick my interest...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Anthony H. Burns
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Inspiring and Absolute Must-Have for Aspiring and Veteran Programmers Alike
    Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    Although written primarily in the context of programmers, the advice Chad has to offer in his book can be applied to virtually any profession in today's world. Unlike many books that attempt to impose a rigid doctrine of practices, The Passionate Programmer method for an outstanding career presents the information in a non-condescending, enjoyable way that feels like you're being guided by a trusted mentor.

    The first thing I found remarkable about Chad's book when I read it for the first time was the refreshingly short length of each chapter. And not to give a negative opinion on the quality of the content either, as each chapter provides complete, yet practical and concise, advice and information on the topic at hand. As the advice in each chapter is always something to come back to again and again, it makes it easy to pick the book up any time for a quick, fulfilling read.

    Since reading this book cover-to-cover, and now coming back to it day after day to refresh myself on the advice it offers, I've already begun to see positive change in the way I do my work, and how much satisfaction I get out of it. The process in the book is one that can truly be carried out in an agile way, iteratively acting on the concepts and advice.

    Usually when reading a book, I find often that some of the content feels irrelevant to what I'm doing. This is certainly not the case with The Passionate Programmer! Every chapter and sidebar in this book provides something that will be relevant to your career at some point, if not most of the time! Chad provides complete coverage of every aspect of one's career, from bettering yourself as an individual to bettering yourself for the people you work for, and practical advice on steps you can do to make your career truly enjoyable as a programmer (although as I said before, much if not all of the advice can be applied to every profession).

    One of my favorite parts about this book is the "Act on It!" sections at the end of many of the chapters. Each of these provides great exercises to practice your craft and better your career. If there was is one thing I can think of right now that would make a great pin-up, it would be a inspiring poster on my wall with a consolidation of each of these sections.

    Finally, The Passionate Programmer is written by a man who has truly lived and breathed the IT industry, especially in context of recent times and the rapid changes they've brought to the industry. That in itself gives all of the advice and knowledge in this book that much more relevance and credibility. Of all the books I've read recently, especially books about programming and the software industry, this is one that will truly stay relevant and highly recommended for new programmers and veterans of the field for years to come.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Bas Vodde
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good advise for a programming career
    Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    The Passionate Programmer is a good and useful book, especially for people who are early on in their programming career and wondering what and how to expand it. Before continuing, it is important to realize this is actually a 2nd edition of book with another title called "My Job Went To India (and All I Got Was This Lousy Book)" and thus if you read that book already (like me) then this book is definitively not worth it (unless you want to re-read it, like I did).

    The book contains 1-3 pages of short career advise tips. These tips are grouped in five parts: 1) Choosing your market, 2) Investing in your product, 3) Executing, 4) Marketing... not just for suits, and 5) Maintaining your edge. Each of these parts have about 10 tips or so and the total size of the book is about 150 pages. It is a very easy read as the tips are reasonably independent do you can just read one in about 5-10 minutes each day (or on a bus ride or so).

    The tips themselves are sometimes obvious such as "find a mentor" or "practice, practice, practice" but in the obvious tips, the author gives some concrete ways in which you can start that. Sometimes the advise is less obvious such as "You've already lost your job" or "Say 'no'" and at times the tips are purposely conflicting such as "be a specialist" and "be a generalist" because life isn't always simple to just follow recipes and build a career that way :P

    In general, the tips together promote a career of a continuously learning software developer who knows he is part of a team and is aware that he builds software for a business and he needs to not only understand the technology but also the business he works in. I think that having more people looking at their career like that would have a positive effect on our industry. The only problem with the book is that the people who read it probably don't need it and the people who need this book most will probably never read it.

    All in all, a pretty decent book on programming careers. Fun and easy to read. Excellent for times when you got a couple of spare minutes and like to read one tip (I didn't suggest toilets :P). I'd recommend it for people starting a programming career. It would probably be less interesting for experienced developers and don't read it if you already read the "My Job Went To India Book". Four stars.
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Andrea Grandi
    1.0 out of 5 stars The book contains a racist statement
    Reviewed in Italy on June 8, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Book was already poor in content and I was going to abandon it soon anyway, but when I found this racist statement inside, I immediately deleted it and requested a refund.

    I mean… seriously? How can the author say something like that?

    Definitely not an Amazon fault (it’s quite hard to check all the books content they sell) but I’m a bit surprised nobody wrote this in the reviews yet.
    Customer image
    Andrea Grandi
    1.0 out of 5 stars
    The book contains a racist statement

    Reviewed in Italy on June 8, 2023
    Book was already poor in content and I was going to abandon it soon anyway, but when I found this racist statement inside, I immediately deleted it and requested a refund.

    I mean… seriously? How can the author say something like that?

    Definitely not an Amazon fault (it’s quite hard to check all the books content they sell) but I’m a bit surprised nobody wrote this in the reviews yet.
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  • SylvinParis
    5.0 out of 5 stars Envie de booster sa carrière ?
    Reviewed in France on May 2, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Ce livre est très complet pour détailler tous les aspects de la carrière de développeur informatique, comment s'améliorer, participer à des groupes pour progresser, comment se faire connaître, les possibilités d'évolutions et quelques conseils clefs.
    A lire par tous les développeurs
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  • Daniel Bryant
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sage advice for all programmers, and becoming even more relevant with age...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I consider this book an essential read for any programmer/developer who is serious about his/her craft. As other reviewers have noted, it does focus on more of the 'soft skills' than other tech books I have recommended below, but this is a very important topic, and one that (in my experience as a technical lead) is often under-valued by programmers.

    With the rise of Agile methodologies, DevOps and 'polyglot' programming/persistence the people who turn business dreams into reality (programmers/developers) are increasingly expected to work across the entire technology stack. Not only does this bring new challenges (what and how to learn about the options available), but it also moves the developer closer to the requirements gathering process and ultimately the end users. Combine this with the fact that even as a permanent employee you can expect to find yourself working for multiple employers over your career, it really does make career planning and investing in your skills a no-brainer.

    I can almost guarantee this book will get you thinking about choices you are making within your career, and it covers topics as diverse as how to choose which technologies to learn, the process of learning technologies and your craft, how to interact with the business and end users, how to market yourself to employers, and how to prevent inertia from affecting your career.

    I can't stress enough the value of the personal/career reflection process that this book will generate for you. The cost of the book alone can easily be justified by the potential extra earning you will make in the future, and not only can you make more money, but you'll have fun doing it (which arguably is even more important) .

    If you consider yourself a developer entrepreneur then I would also recommend reading The Lean Startup: How Constant Innovation Creates Radically Successful Businesses (for thoughts on validated learning, scientific experimentation, and iterative product releases) ReWork: Change the Way You Work Forever (for advice on how to think differently about developing technical products/service) and Ignore Everybody (for fun recommendations on how to explore and engage your creativity).

    If you are more of a career developer then I would recommend The Pragmatic Programmer (for advice on how to become the best developer you can be), Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship (Robert C. Martin) and Code Complete 2nd Edition Book and Online Course Bundle (for essential skills in writing good code), and The Clean Coder: A Code of Conduct for Professional Programmers (Robert C. Martin) (offering essential advice on how to work as a 'professional' within the tech industry).
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  • Grenouille Nicoise
    4.0 out of 5 stars 自分の商品価値がきになるエンジニアへの指針
    Reviewed in Japan on April 10, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    自分の市場価値が気になるエンジニアへの優れた行動指針
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  • Boba
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nice book
    Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on December 9, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I like it
    Report

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