4 replies to this topic

[Nico_gamedev]

Hi,

I'm an average coder in C/C++/Java, and I would like to improve my coding skills and learn new things.

So do you know good books (or web links?) for C/C++/Java that teach really more than the basic scholar stuff, and instead venture into deeper and efficient coding techniques (code optimizations and tricks, and stuff like that) ?

Thanks!

Edited by Nico_gamedev, 01 December 2012 - 03:47 AM.

[Yrjö P.]

Are you familiar with basics of algorithm analysis and data structures yet? That's prerequisite when going for efficiency; any small scale optimization or language specific trick doesn't save you if the code is bad on a higher level.

I think one relevant book would be "Programming Pearls" by Jon Bentley. Heavy on thinking, but not very heavy on theory (no exotic algorithms, etc.). I have only thumbed it through but am planning to go through it later. It's a thin book, but digesting it properly will require doing a lot of the exercises and that will take a substantial amount of time.

[Bubsy]

Cool that you want to venture into optimization and coding tricks, but don't forget the bigger picture. GoF Design Patterns will teach you how to structure your code better. Sometimes a good architecture will make it easier to optimize your program in the long run.

[TheChubu]

Cool that you want to venture into optimization and coding tricks, but don't forget the bigger picture. GoF Design Patterns will teach you how to structure your code better. Sometimes a good architecture will make it easier to optimize your program in the long run.

This. Learning to apply design patterns is a good step for improving your code. Good designs will help you to avoid redundant code and having to use hackish solutions to get around a bad structure.

[Nico_gamedev]

Thank you for your pieces of advice! (and don't hesitate to post other interesting book titles or weblinks). Thanks!