The Programmer's Brain you own this product

What every programmer needs to know about cognition
Felienne Hermans
Foreword by Jon Skeet
  • August 2021
  • ISBN 9781617298677
  • 256 pages
  • printed in black & white
  • Available translations: Japanese, Korean, Russian, Simplified Chinese

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Look inside
Your brain responds in a predictable way when it encounters new or difficult tasks. This unique book teaches you concrete techniques rooted in cognitive science that will improve the way you learn and think about code.

In The Programmerโ€™s Brain: What every programmer needs to know about cognition you will learn:

  • Fast and effective ways to master new programming languages
  • Speed reading skills to quickly comprehend new code
  • Techniques to unravel the meaning of complex code
  • Ways to learn new syntax and keep it memorized
  • Writing code that is easy for others to read
  • Picking the right names for your variables
  • Making your codebase more understandable to newcomers
  • Onboarding new developers to your team

Learn how to optimize your brainโ€™s natural cognitive processes to read code more easily, write code faster, and pick up new languages in much less time. This book will help you through the confusion you feel when faced with strange and complex code, and explain a codebase in ways that can make a new team member productive in days!

about the technology

Take advantage of your brainโ€™s natural processes to be a better programmer. Techniques based in cognitive science make it possible to learn new languages faster, improve productivity, reduce the need for code rewrites, and more. This unique book will help you achieve these gains.

about the book

The Programmerโ€™s Brain unlocks the way we think about code. It offers scientifically sound techniques that can radically improve the way you master new technology, comprehend code, and memorize syntax. Youโ€™ll learn how to benefit from productive struggle and turn confusion into a learning tool. Along the way, youโ€™ll discover how to create study resources as you become an expert at teaching yourself and bringing new colleagues up to speed.

what's inside

  • Understand how your brain sees code
  • Speed reading skills to learn code quickly
  • Techniques to unravel complex code
  • Tips for making codebases understandable

about the reader

For programmers who have experience working in more than one language.

about the author

Dr. Felienne Hermans is an associate professor at Leiden University in the Netherlands. She has spent the last decade researching programming, how to learn and how to teach it.

'Ah, that makes sense now!โ€™ and โ€˜Oh, I hadnโ€™t thought of that!' have been the background rhythm when reading this book. Thinking about thinking is addictive!

Jon Skeet, Google

Helps you understand how your brain works and how you can use it more effectively to read, write, and collaborate on code.

Ben McNamara, DataGeek

Teaches you science-based habits to reduce your mental workload and hack your way to becoming a rockstar programmer!

Daniela Zapata Riesco, M1 Finance

If youโ€™ve ever wondered what working smarter instead of harder is supposed to look like, you should read this book. I am already seeing improvements in my day-to-day work.

Zhijun Liu, Mediaocean

A great book with deep insights into the bridge between programming and the human mind.

Mike Taylor, CGI

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choose your plan

team

monthly
annual
$49.99
$399.99
only $33.33 per month
  • five seats for your team
  • access to all Manning books, MEAPs, liveVideos, liveProjects, and audiobooks!
  • choose another free product every time you renew
  • choose twelve free products per year
  • exclusive 50% discount on all purchases
  • The Programmer's Brain ebook for free