The psychology of computer programming

292 pages

English language

Published Jan. 5, 1998 by Dorset House Pub..

View on OpenLibrary

4 stars (1 review)

This landmark 1971 classic is reprinted with a new preface, chapter-by-chapter commentary, and straight-from-the-heart observations on topics that affect the professional life of programmers. Long regarded as one of the first books to pioneer a people-oriented approach to computing, The Psychology of Computer Programming endures as a penetrating analysis of the intelligence, skill, teamwork, and problem-solving power of the computer programmer. Finding the chapters strikingly relevant to today's issues in programming, Gerald M. Weinberg adds new insights and highlights the similarities and differences between now and then. Using a conversational style that invites the reader to join him, Weinberg reunites with some of his most insightful writings on the human side of software engineering. Topics include egoless programming, intelligence, psychological measurement, personality factors, motivation, training, social problems on large projects, problem-solving ability, programming language design, team formation, the programming environment, and much more. The author says, "On an inspired eight-week …

5 editions

Still interesting after 50 years

4 stars

As a professional educator in the field of computer science, I find much in this book that resonates even 50 years later. The technologies have changed (almost all of the examples in the book are machine language, assembly, PL/I, or FORTRAN, with a passing mention of BASIC as a hobbyist's language), but many of the struggles and though processes remain very familiar. Unfortunately, many of the questions that Weinberg poses as open for future study seem to be open still today, such as finding ways to give programmers just the right amount of motivation to keep them learning without overwhelming them!

The book is divided into four major parts: I, Programming as Human Performance; II, Programming as a Social Activity; III, Programming as an Individual Activity, and IV, Programming tools; plus a final very brief V, Epilogue. I found parts I--IV increasingly compelling as they progressed, with I being of …

Subjects

  • Computer programming -- Psychological aspects.