O’Reilly news

Think Like a Programmer--New from No Starch Press: An Introduction to Creative Problem Solving

July 30, 2012

Ubuntu Made Easy
Request Review copy

San Francisco, CA, July 31, 2012—There are plenty of resources out there that effectively teach programming languages. But the real challenge of programming isn't learning a language's syntax—it's learning to creatively solve problems in order to build something great.

In Think Like a Programmer (No Starch Press, August 2012, 256 pp., $34.95, ISBN 9781593274245), author V. Anton Spraul breaks down the ways programmers solve problems and teaches readers what other introductory books often ignore: how to Think Like a Programmer. Each chapter tackles a single programming concept—such as classes, pointers, or recursion—and illustrates how to apply the tool to real problems in innovative ways. Readers will learn techniques for organizing their thoughts, strategies to apply to particular types of problems, and ways they can avoid the frustration that often accompanies especially tricky challenges.

"Knowing how to write code is very different from knowing how to solve real-world programming challenges," said No Starch Press founder Bill Pollock. "The complaint we hear from students and working programmers is that their training is strong on theory, but weak on practice. Think Like a Programmer promises to help bridge that gap."

Think Like a Programmer will teach readers how to:

  • Split problems into discrete components to make them easier to solve
  • Make the most of code reuse with functions, classes, and libraries
  • Pick the perfect data structure for a particular job
  • Master more advanced programming tools like recursion and dynamic memory

As the most skillful programmers know, writing great code is a creative art—and the first step in creating a masterpiece is learning to Think Like a Programmer.

For more information or to request a review copy of Think Like a Programmer, contact Jessica Miller at No Starch Press (nostarchpr@oreilly.com, +1.415.863.9900, x110) or visit www.nostarch.com.

About the Author

V. Anton Spraul has taught introductory programming and computer science for more than 15 years. This book is a distillation of the techniques he has used and honed over many one-on-one sessions with struggling programmers. He is also the author of Computer Science Made Simple (Broadway).

V. Anton Spraul is available for radio, TV, print, and online interviews. Please contact jessica@nostarch.com.

Additional Resources
Chapter 6: Solving Problems With Recursion (PDF)
Table of Contents
Detailed Table of Contents (PDF)
Index (PDF)
No Starch Press Catalog Page

	
Think Like a Programmer Think Like a Programmer
Publisher: No Starch Press
By V. Anton Spraul
ISBN: 9781593274245, $34.95  
August 2012, 256 pp.
order@oreilly.com
1-800-998-9938
1-707-827-7000

Request Review copy

You Might Also Be Interested In:

Eloquent JavaScript
Eloquent JavaScript
A Modern Introduction to Programming
by Marijn Haverbeke
Request Review copy
Hacking: The Art of Exploitation, 2nd Edition
Hacking: The Art of Exploitation, 2nd Edition
by Jon Erickson
Request Review copy
Learn You a Haskell for Great Good!
Learn You a Haskell for Great Good!
A Beginner's Guide
by Miran Lipovača
Request Review copy

Available in fine bookstores everywhere, from http://www.oreilly.com/nostarch or directly from No Starch Press (http://www.nostarch.com, orders@nostarch.com, 1-800-420-7240).

About No Starch Press
Founded in 1994, No Starch Press publishes the finest in geek entertainment—unique books on technology, with a focus on open source, security, hacking, programming, alternative operating systems, LEGO, science, and math. Our titles have personality, our authors are passionate, and our books tackle topics that people care about. No Starch Press titles have been included in the prestigious Communication Arts Design Annual and STEP Inside 100 competition, and have won the Independent Publisher Book Award (the "IPPYs") from Independent Publisher magazine. Visit http://www.nostarch.com for a complete catalog.

About O’Reilly

O’Reilly Media spreads the knowledge of innovators through its books, online services, magazines, and conferences. Since 1978, O’Reilly Media has been a chronicler and catalyst of cutting-edge development, homing in on the technology trends that really matter and spurring their adoption by amplifying “faint signals” from the alpha geeks who are creating the future. An active participant in the technology community, the company has a long history of advocacy, meme-making, and evangelism.

Email a link to this press release