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. MARKETS: For supplemental reading in an intermediate or advanced course on software design methods or software engineering, and for practicing programmers, software engineers, and specialists. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0137213743
• ISBN13: 9780137213740
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Prentice Hall
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.2" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Why is software design so hard?

Maybe because, unlike Plauger, most authors tend to advocate for their particular methodologies and do not really teach how to make the best use of the available design techniques. (Well, maybe it is just that way and it will never become easier. That's part of its charm.) There are no silver bullets (that is, no "one-size-fits-all" method) and "we often cannot articulate why we do what we do when we do it." Plauger tries...

A must have for any professional programmer

Definitely a must have. One thing to keep in mind while reading this book is that it is a collection of essays taken from Plauger's column in Computer Language. Mr. (or should I say Dr since he has his PhD) has an easy and enjoyable reading style. The book's main thrust is collection of design methods each with a specific purpose. These design methods are used at various stages of developement on specific type of problems...

Simple, powerful ideas

Few books I review get 5 stars. This is one of them. Programming on Purpose is a collection of essays originally written for Computer Language magazine. Although the original publication of this collection was in 1993, the materials in the book date back considerably further. Are Plauger's observations and nuggets of advice still relevant? Absolutely. When you read modern classics like Design Patterns (Gamma, et. al.) you...