Re: Software design -- The confussion of buzzwords

[lwicks]

zzSPECTREz, I know where you are coming from. Since the days of my CP/M based machine (MicroBee, anyone else have one) Through C64 & PCs I have tried programming on and off.
I learned bits of code here there and everywhere, but never did much serious coding till discovering Perl. When I started to do more I have found it easy to learn syntax, etc. But that underlying knowledge of how to start and proceed is tricky.

I have will be buying "Complete Code" now seeing as so many people suggested it.

One other person suggested Extreme Programming (The "good" XP), I have found it both confusing and usefull. XP is all about the concepts of coding and has helped me get more comfortable with design.

I also find that a large sheet of paper and a pen help immensely. When I have something to design/code. I tend to get a few large sheets of paper out and try to write/draw/scribble down what needs to happen. I also tend to start building a list of variables/constants/data. When I have a good idea of what needs to happen and the data in play the design tends to come easier. I have found Object oreinted coding tricky to get my head round at first but makes life much easier when you get a grip on it. So definitely read the tutorials here and elsewhere.

PerlMonks.org is the BEST resource I have found. The posts and the community responses (on the whole) to stupid questions is great!

So...
Complete Code - sounds like the "Bible"
XP - great concepts for managing the process
PerlMonks - everything else?

Lance

[zzspectrez]

I went down to Barnes and Noble and checked out "Code Complete". It does appear to be the book to buy. It will be my next purchase for sure.

Another book that I saw/skimmed through, that looks good is UML Distilled. It goes over how to use UML to sketch the design of your objects and codes. I think that this may be the route for diagraming the program/data structure. One thing I allways have found a need for is a way to diagram the structures in a more abstract way then code before actually beginning the coding process..

zzspectrez