39 Best Books on Programming

“Computer Basics and C Programming” Book Review: The book is divided into two main parts. The first part covers computer fundamentals, while the second part focuses on C Programming language. It is an introductory course designed to assist engineering and science students in developing their fundamental principles of computer and Information Technology, as well as providing key computing concepts through programming and problem-solving using the C language. The book covers three aspects of computers: binary representation of numeric and character data, computer software introduction, and array data structure, logical operation, and concept of function in C and its application. The remainder of the book explores the use of C for solving non-numerical problems. The book includes over 100 solved examples for better comprehension and laboratory exercises on applications like MS Office.

“C Programming Language: A Step by Step Guide to Learn C Programming in 7 Days” Book Review: This book is designed for both novice programmers and computer users curious about the workings of computer programs. It covers topics such as the basics of C language and local environment setup, as well as in-depth discussions on C structures, data types, constants and literals, storage classes, loops, functions, structures, and unions. Furthermore, it discusses the advantages of using C language and offers detailed guidance on organizing expressions to produce useful results instead of error messages after compilation and execution.

“Programming: Computer Programming For Beginners: Learn The Basics Of HTML5, JavaScript & CSS (Coding, C Programming, Java Programming, Web Design, JavaScript, Python, HTML and CSS)” Book Review: This book introduces three of the most widely used programming languages – JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. It provides an overview of the basics of these languages and covers their fundamental structures and programming concepts. The book covers a range of topics, including an introduction to web development, learning HTML5, understanding CSS, and learning JavaScript to make the web more interactive. It explains the syntax of each language and includes various functions, tips, and tricks. Additionally, the book contains a section addressing frequently asked questions related to these topics.

“Computer Science: A Structured Programming Approach Using C” Book Review: This book adopts a principle-before-implementation approach to present computer science theory and C-language syntax. It highlights the significance of structured programming and software engineering. The book covers a range of topics, including Introduction to Computers, Introduction to the C Language, Structure of a C Program, Functions, Selection-Making Decisions, Arrays, Pointers and their Applications, Strings, Enumerated, Structure, and Union Types. It also delves into topics like Binary Input/Output, Bitwise Operators, and Lists. The book concludes with appendices on libraries and commands. Each chapter includes worked examples and projects to help readers gain a practical understanding of the subject matter.

“Objective Computer Awareness” Book Review: This book is aimed at individuals preparing for Bank PO and Clerk examinations, such as IBPS PO & Clerk, SBI PO & Clerk, LIC AAO, Railway Recruitment Exams, and other banking and recruitment entrances. Each chapter begins with an introduction to the topic and is divided into 13 chapters, covering a range of topics including Introduction to Computer, Computer Architecture, Input & Output Devices, Computer Memory, Data Representation, Computer Software, Operating System (OS), Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, Database Concepts, Data Communication & Networking, Internet & Its Services, and Computer Security. The book includes practice questions and solved questions from previous years in each chapter, along with a glossary of abbreviations at the end. The book also provides ten practice sets with solutions for self-analysis.

“Computer Programming in Fortran 77 (With an Introduction to Fortran 90)” Book Review: This book offers a comprehensive and accessible introduction to Fortran 77, a programming language widely used by scientists and engineers. The book is divided into 18 chapters, starting with computer-oriented procedures and flow charts in the first two chapters. The subsequent chapters cover Fortran programming preliminaries, including constants and variables, arithmetic expressions, input-output, simple computer programs, control statements, do statements, and subscripted variables. Other topics include Elementary format specification, logical expressions and decision tables, Fortran program examples, functions and subroutines, processing files in Fortran, and character manipulation. The book includes a chapter on the features of Fortran 77 and introduces readers to Fortran 90. Each chapter concludes with exercises to reinforce the concepts presented.

“Computer Fundamentals and Programming in C” Book Review: This book serves as a comprehensive textbook for undergraduate students of engineering, computer science, computer applications, and information technology, aiming to provide a solid foundation in computer programming. Divided into three parts, the book begins with an introduction to computers, covering their evolution, characteristics, basic organization, classification, and applications. The second part delves into the fundamentals of C programming, including decision control and loop statements, functions, arrays, strings, pointers, structures and unions, file management, and preprocessor directives. Part three provides an in-depth overview of data structures such as linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, and graphs. Appendices cover topics like the ASCII chart and ANSI C library functions. The book includes plenty of example codes and their outputs, along with numerous exercises such as objective type questions, review exercises, and programming problems at the end of each chapter.

“Beginning R: The Statistical Programming Language” Book Review: This book is a valuable resource for beginners as well as professionals who wish to write their own scripts. It explains how R can be used for performing simple statistical operations, such as hypothesis testing, creating graphs, regression analysis, and other complex analytical tasks. Divided into 12 chapters, the book covers topics such as implementing basic statistical methods like the t-test, correlation, and tests of association, improving graphs, and manipulating data for easy analysis. It also discusses how to perform basic and complex regression analysis. The book uses simple statistical examples to teach the necessary elements of R, making it easier for readers to apply these concepts in real-world scenarios. Each chapter concludes with a summary that serves as a quick reference guide to the main points covered in that chapter. The book also includes a set of questions and solutions at the end, making it a comprehensive resource for learning R.

“Parallel Computers: Architecture and Programming” Book Review: The second edition of this book maintains its clear and concise writing style while incorporating new content that reflects the advancements in parallel computing. It serves as a valuable resource for final year undergraduate students of computer science, engineering, and information technology. The book covers the fundamental principles of designing parallel computers and programming them. It commences with an overview of parallel problem-solving techniques and explains how parallelism can enhance computer performance. The book covers a range of topics, such as instruction-level parallel processing, parallel computer architecture, multicore processors, grid and cloud computing, parallel algorithms, parallel programming, compiler transformations, operating systems for parallel computers, and performance evaluation of parallel computers. The book includes a wealth of examples and problem sets.

“Data Structures and Algorithms Made Easy: Data Structures and Algorithmic Puzzles” Book Review: This book is a guide for computer scientists and individuals with a computer-related background seeking solutions to complex problems related to data structures and algorithms. It is particularly helpful for preparing for interviews, exams, and campus work. The book covers algorithms, recursion and backtracking, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, priority queues and heaps, disjoint sets ADT, graph algorithms, sorting, searching, selection algorithms, symbol tables, hashing, string algorithms, algorithm design techniques, greedy algorithms, divide and conquer algorithms, dynamic programming, and complexity classes. Solutions to problems are provided in C and C++ languages.

“The Art of Computer Programming: Volume 1: Fundamental Algorithms” Book Review: The book is designed for those passionate about computer programming. It covers various topics such as basic concepts like algorithms, mathematical preliminaries, MTX, and fundamental programming techniques. The book also discusses information structures like linear lists, trees, multilinked structures, dynamic storage allocation, history, and bibliography. In addition, the book offers exercises with answers and appendices to guide the readers.

“Programming in Haskell” Book Review: The latest edition of the book has undergone significant updates and additions to encompass the latest and more advanced features of Haskell, along with new exercises, examples, and selected solutions. The book is divided into two parts – Part I covers basic concepts, while Part II delves into more advanced topics. The book’s approach is clear and concise, and all concepts are presented from the ground up, making it accessible to readers with no prior programming experience. The book offers freely downloadable lecture slides and example code to supplement the learning process.

“Formal Semantics of Programming Languages” Book Review: This book is a guide to the semantics and logics of programming languages, providing an introduction to basic mathematical techniques. The book starts with the basics of set theory and gradually introduces structural operational semantics, denotational semantics, and axiomatic semantics to define the meaning of programming languages. The associated proof techniques are also discussed. The book then covers domain theory and explores the semantics and proof techniques of several functional languages. Additionally, separate chapters on recursive types and parallel programming languages are included. The book contains numerous exercises and mini-projects for the readers to practice. This book is an excellent resource for students and professionals who have prerequisite knowledge of the subject.

“Foundations for Programming Languages” Book Review: This book covers the fundamental concepts essential for understanding modern programming languages, such as functions, types, memory management, and control, and provides a comprehensive comparison of object-oriented programming languages. The book explores the axiomatic, operational, and denotational semantics of sequential programming languages, using typed lambda calculi, and also delves into the history of objects, Simula, Smalltalk, C++, and Java. In addition, the book includes advanced chapters on polymorphism and modules, subtyping, object-oriented concepts, universal algebra, and algebraic data types. It also discusses imperative languages, Floyd-Hoare logic, concurrency, program components, inter-language interoperability, and features a special chapter on logic programming. This book is perfect for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as professionals in software validation and programming. It presents the key points of the lambda calculus and denotational semantics, along with numerous illustrations, examples, and exercises.

“Types and Programming Languages” Book Review: The book offers a thorough introduction to the type systems used in computer science, as well as the basic theory of programming languages. The core concepts covered include untyped lambda calculus, simple type systems, type reconstruction, universal and existential polymorphism, subtyping, bounded quantification, recursive types, kinds, and type operators. Programming examples, numerous exercises, and solutions are provided to aid understanding. In addition, extended case studies are presented to demonstrate different approaches to modeling the features of object-oriented languages. This book is essential reading for graduate and undergraduate students in computer science and engineering, as well as those studying computer applications.

“Essentials of Programming Languages” Book Review: The book takes an analytical and hands-on approach to provide a comprehensive understanding of programming language concepts. Through interpreters written in Scheme, essential language elements are expressed with clarity and direct executability, with important program analyses included. The book explores design and implementation alternatives with extensive exercises and maintains a clear connection between high and low level views of programming languages using theories of abstraction. The addition of new chapters on modules and continuation passing style makes it valuable for graduate and undergraduate courses and education programs for programmers with prior knowledge in computer science and engineering.

“Programming Languages: Concepts and Constructs” Book Review: This book offers an in-depth exploration of programming language concepts and their interconnections. It provides clear and accessible coverage of the major programming paradigms, starting with the core concepts of imperative programming in Pascal and C languages, and moving on to object-oriented programming in C++ and Smalltalk. The book covers procedural (C and Pascal), object-oriented (C++ and Smalltalk), functional (ML and Scheme), and logic (Prolog) programming, with the author explaining the principles of programming in these languages while also discussing aspects of implementing compilers and interpreters, such as attribute grammars and typing. The book uses standard ML programs and Lisp scheme dialect to illustrate functional languages, and Prolog to introduce logic programming. By detailing how the related concepts of a programming language work together, the book provides designers with a thorough understanding of major programming concepts. The book concludes with a chapter on lambda calculus, offering a preview of advanced material to be covered on type checking. Novice, graduate students, and professionals alike will find this book to be an engaging and informative resource.

“The Lambda Calculus: Its Syntax and Semantics” Book Review: This book covers type-free lambda calculus, serving as an encyclopedia of its concepts. The author provides a uniform and detailed description of lambda calculus models, including numerous examples and exercises ranging from easy to difficult levels. The book is self-contained, presenting almost all results on type-free lambda calculus up to the time of its publication. The author proves all theorems and lemmas in detail, except for those left as exercises for the reader. The book is suitable for students, functional programmers, and researchers who wish to explore lambda calculus, combinatory logic, type theory, and constructive math in greater depth. Basic understanding of mathematical logic is recommended to grasp the full potential of the book. The book’s graphical layout of symbols makes it easier to read and learn from. It is a must-read for all computer science students interested in theory, but principally aimed at researchers and students in the field.

“Principles of Programming Languages” Book Review: The main principles of modern programming language design and implementation are presented in a self-contained manner in this book. The author uses concrete terms, including activation stacks and other machine-level abstractions, to explain complex ideas like scopes and evaluation mechanisms. Additionally, the book provides comprehensive coverage and comparison of various aspects of C++, Java, and C#. It is an excellent resource for undergraduate or graduate students in computer science and engineering.

“Programming Languages: Principles and Paradigms” Book Review: The main principles of modern programming language design and implementation are presented in a self-contained manner in this book. The author uses concrete terms, including activation stacks and other machine-level abstractions, to explain complex ideas like scopes and evaluation mechanisms. The book provides comprehensive coverage and comparison of various aspects of C++, Java, and C#. It is an ideal resource for undergraduate or graduate students in computer science and engineering.

“An Introduction to Principles of Programming Languages” Book Review: This book provides a thorough overview of the basics of programming languages and their methodologies. It delves into various language procedures, including functional programming, logic programming, concurrent programming, and object-oriented programming, and explores them in detail. The content is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students, professionals, and programmers with a background in computer science and engineering.

“Programming Languages: Principles and Practices” Book Review: The book gives a thorough understanding of programming languages by covering general principles alongside specific details of various modern languages, such as C, C++, Smalltalk, Java, Ada, ML, Haskell, Scheme, and Prolog. It includes in-depth theoretical and implementation coverage, complete with exercises and problems to solve, making it an excellent bridge between compiler courses and theoretical programming language study. This book caters to both computer science students and programmers.

“A Discipline of Programming (Prentice-Hall Series in Automatic Computation)” Book Review: This book is appropriate for students studying computation and electronics, as well as individuals interested in programming. It provides an introduction to programming principles, starting with the basics and discussing how to approach programming questions by writing algorithms. The book also includes small programs to aid in understanding and covers automata theory to facilitate comprehension of programming.

“Coders at Work: Reflections on the Craft of Programming” Book Review: The book offers insights from interviews with 16 of the world’s most renowned computer programmers. The chapters feature Jamie Zawinski, Brad Fitzparick, Douglas Crockford, Brendan Eich, Joshua Bloch, Joe Armstrong, and Simon Peyton Jones, among others such as Peter Norvig, Guy Steele, Dan Ingalls, L Peter Deutsch, Ken Thompson, Fran Allen, Bernie Cosell, and Donal Knuth. The book is an invaluable resource for anyone looking to learn more about programming and the experiences of prominent programmers.

“Introduction to Programming Languages” Book Review: This book presents an introduction to the fundamental principles of programming language design and implementation, including data structures and discrete structures, viewed from a programming language theory perspective. It covers important topics such as syntax and semantics, program structures, object-oriented programming, functional programming, logic programming, imperative programming, subprogram interaction, and more. In addition, this book includes newer concepts like agent-based programming, event-based programming, web and multimedia programming, synchronous languages, mobile computing models, dependency analysis, concurrent programming constructs, communicating sequential processes, and high-productivity programming on massive parallel computers. The book is enriched with examples, case studies, and exercises, making it an ideal resource for both students and professionals.

“Implementation and Application of Functional Languages” Book Review: The 14 selected and revised papers included in this book are from the proceedings of the 24th International Symposium on Implementation and Application of Functional Languages, IFL 2012, which took place in Oxford, UK, in Aug-Sept 2012. The book focuses on the implementation and application of functional languages and function-based programming.

“Fundamentals of Programming Languages” Book Review: The primary focus of this book is on the fundamental principles of programming languages, covering topics such as data types, statements, variables, concurrency, procedures, exception handling, scope, and typing in great detail. By offering such a comprehensive understanding of these essential concepts, this book provides a foundation for comprehending future language designs, making it an ideal resource for students and beginners in the field.

“The Interpretation of Object-Oriented Programming Languages” Book Review: The book thoroughly explores the basic principles of object-oriented programming languages, encompassing prototype, class-based, and actor languages. It provides an in-depth understanding of object-oriented programming in C#, covering all relevant aspects. This edition features an appendix on BeCecil, a kernel language that incorporates object-oriented constructs in a unified framework. This book serves as an invaluable resource for both students and professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge of object-oriented programming.

“The Spoken Language Translator (Studies in Natural Language Processing)” Book Review: This book is a valuable resource for individuals interested in exploring the possibilities of spoken language. It offers comprehensive information about spoken language translation, focusing primarily on the language processing components developed on the SRI core language. It is suitable for both beginners and professionals.

“Program Phases: A Programming Language and Api Translator” Book Review: This is a comprehensive guide to understanding programming languages and APIs. The book is divided into three main parts, covering topics such as programming language basics, API development, and program translation. Mihalik offers detailed explanations of concepts and provides practical examples for readers to follow. With its clear and concise writing style, this book is suitable for both beginner and advanced programmers looking to improve their understanding of programming languages and APIs.

“Compiler Technology: Tools, Translators and Language Implementation (The Springer International Series in Engineering and Computer Science)” Book Review: The book is designed for undergraduate students and is fundamental to computer science. It covers the tools, translators, and implementation of programming languages to facilitate the quick development of analysis tools. The book contains various exercises that delve into the intricacies of language implementation, making it an ideal resource for students looking to deepen their understanding of programming languages.

“Language Implementation Patterns (Pragmatic Programmers)” Book Review: This book is a guide to building compilers and interpreters using modern programming techniques. The book covers topics such as parsing, symbol tables, code generation, and virtual machines. Each chapter includes exercises and examples written in Java. The book is designed for programmers with experience in object-oriented programming and provides a comprehensive introduction to language implementation for those interested in creating their own programming languages or domain-specific languages.

“Natural Language Processing of Semitic Languages (Theory and Applications of Natural Language Processing)” Book Review: The book provides a comprehensive overview of natural language processing (NLP) techniques for Semitic languages. It covers topics such as morphological analysis, syntactic parsing, machine translation, sentiment analysis, and speech recognition. The book also includes case studies and practical applications of NLP techniques in Semitic languages. It is a valuable resource for researchers, graduate students, and professionals working in the field of NLP and Semitic languages.

“Parallel Programming in C with Mpi and Openmp” Book Review: This book provides a comprehensive guide on designing parallel programs in C using MPI and OpenMP. It covers the most important MPI functions and OpenMP directives, as well as a rock-solid design methodology. Through numerous examples, the book demonstrates how to develop efficient parallel programs for modern parallel platforms. It caters to the needs of both students and professionals who want to learn how to design, analyze, implement, and benchmark parallel programs. The book includes background information on motivation, history, and parallel architectures.

“Parallel Programming: Techniques and Applications Using Networked Workstations and Parallel Computers” Book Review: The book is designed for undergraduate and graduate-level courses in parallel programming. It provides a practical approach to parallel programming techniques, linking to real parallel programming software and enabling students to write and evaluate their parallel programs. The book focuses on cluster programming, which has become more widespread with the availability of low-cost computers.

“Python Parallel Programming Cookbook” Book Review: This book is designed for software developers seeking to enhance their coding skills with parallel programming techniques. It aims to make the topics accessible to non-experts by providing clear explanations and examples. Whether you are new to parallel computing or have experience, this book covers both the basics and advanced features to help you master parallel programming.

“Programming Massively Parallel Processors: A Hands-on Approach” by Wen-mei W Hwu and David B Kirk Book Review: This book explores parallel programming and GPU engineering, providing detailed insights into various methods for developing equivalent projects. Through case studies, the book presents the development process, from computational reasoning to successful and efficient parallel projects. It describes computational reasoning methods that enable students to approach problems in ways that are suitable for high-performance parallel processing. The book uses CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture), NVIDIA’s software development tool designed specifically for highly parallel environments, and teaches readers how to achieve high performance and reliability using the CUDA programming model as well as OpenCL. It is recommended for advanced students, programmers, developers, and hardware engineers who want to learn computational reasoning and problem-solving strategies that enable high-performance parallel processing.