How do you usually read programming books?

7    19 May 2017 13:39 by u/youyesyou

Do you read ebook versions of them? Or printed on paper?

I've done both and found the printed ones to be easier on the eyes. But being able to copy and paste chunks of code is so convenient. What's your experience?

12 comments

3 u/kevf4 20 May 2017 03:33

I prefer a paper copy. Typing it instead of copy/paste forces you to think about the details. Easier on the eyes too.

0 u/lmkevin 22 May 2017 18:50

Same here. I'm not trying to be a hipster or anything, paper is just so much more tangible. And I'm on the computer all day, why would I want to spend any additional time reading books?

1 u/perihelion0 24 May 2017 20:41
  1. throw book away
  2. stackoverflow
0 u/kragrat 25 May 2017 22:32

Won't make you a good programmer.

0 u/xyzzy 19 May 2017 13:48

I prefer them as ebook, since I usually don't read them cover to cover, but by control-f.

I generally don't like copy paste of code.

0 u/therealkrispy 19 May 2017 15:55

Honestly, I read the cover and quickly remember that it's never gonna be the medium I'll learn best from, at which point I stop.

0 u/ShowMeYourKitties 19 May 2017 16:51

I read just use this: https://devdocs.io

0 u/roznak 19 May 2017 18:53

I prefer paper books, easier to read and they last a lifetime. But because computer books are so fast outdated, I prefer to buy them on ePaper, I don't like to kill trees for it.

0 u/Dixie_Flatline 20 May 2017 00:43

Prefer hard copies. Will survive decades without any tinkering.

Or at any rate, a .pdf on a second monitor.

Bring able to make notes, flip quickly to different sections, grab another book, I need the shit separated more than just windows on a single screen.

0 u/scabs_galore 24 May 2017 09:44

I got a wall full of paper books, mostly science stuff.... but I'm finding the best way to get complex ideas into my head is through a well presented youtube video. I find a lot of science books, esp UK ones, tend to be written with a lot of "look how smart i am" style, making it a pain in the ass to put the ideas into your intuition. Some of the youtube videos are much more intuitive and clear

0 u/dchem 25 May 2017 03:47

I buy ebooks, and then buy paper copy if I really like the book.

0 u/DickHertz 02 Jun 2017 16:46

Sometimes a publisher will charge a nominal charge for the e-book if you buy the printed one so you can get both.