Seriously Good Software

Foreword

I have written quite a few programming books in the last 30 years, so it is perhaps not surprising that every so often someone contacts me seeking advice about writing a book. I always ask for a sample chapter. In most cases, I hear nothing further, and I don’t feel bad about that. Obviously, if someone can’t produce a chapter, no book will materialize, and there is nothing to discuss.

In January 2018, I got an email from Marco Faella, a professor from the University of Naples, whom I had previously met when he worked at the University of California in Santa Cruz. He asked for advice about a book project. And he had already finished several chapters! I liked what I saw and replied with encouragement and a few suggestions. I didn’t hear ...