What's the subject of a book on software development that you are currently reading (or want to read in the near future)? If a significant number of people are reading books on similar subjects it is probably a sign of the times (to come).
[NOTE] This is not a poll on what is the best comp-sci book :-)
Im taking this course, and it has the assigned readings posted on the site :)
http://www.mscs.mu.edu/~rge/mscs282/
http://www.mscs.mu.edu/~rge/mscs282/lectures/index.htm
The gist is that programming for multicore processors is similar to programming for a beowulf cluster, and then that's something we all can get behind.
I just picked up two fairly recent O'Reilly books:
Currently reading: Agile Software Development, Principles, Patterns, and Practices by Robert C. Martin
http://www.amazon.com/Software-Development-Principles-Patterns-Practices/dp/0135974445
Pragmatic Thinking and Learning, by Andy Hunt
I'm having a hard time putting it down. It's one of those books, however, that you don't have to read sequentially. You can open it to nearly any chapter (during a break, etc.), read a few paragraphs, and find something new about how to improve your learning and thinking skills. Excellent book!
The Object-Oriented Thought Process : I bought it years ago, but decided to go back and re-read some old books. So far, I'm still enjoying it :)
mostly groovy and grails books, the latest is: The Definitive Guide to Grails, Second Edition (http://www.apress.com/book/view/1590599950).
also, Clean Code: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship (http://www.amazon.com/Clean-Code-Handbook-Software-Craftsmanship/dp/0132350882)
and Test Driven: TDD and Acceptance TDD for Java Developers (http://www.amazon.com/Test-Driven-Acceptance-Java-Developers/dp/1932394850)
The Pragmatic Programmer - a very good book. it is a nice collection of ideas, observations, and recommendations for software developers.
I've been reading Code Complete for the first time slowly over the last couple months.
As a relatively junior developer, I've found it to be extremely informative and has really made me think more about the process of good design.
As a developer stuck in a horrible mess of outdated, GOTO-laden COBOL code.. well, it just makes me sad to read it, knowing what I'm missing.
As far as books on specific technologies, I'm well into reading Essential C# 3.0 For .Net Framework 3.5 on, I believe, a recommendation I was given on another StackOverflow question.
I'm reading Java Concurrency in Practice, and boy do I feel terrible about the code I've written in the past...
Reading list:
How much time is spent on each depends on the situation but I try to dedicate some time daily for 1 and 2 (so as to complete them).
The actual answer to your question is read whatever helps you to be a hacker.
Real World Haskell is what I'm trying to immerse myself in at the moment.
C# in Depth: What you need to master C# 2 and 3 by Jon Skeet
I liked his answers on here so much I had to see what else he's written.
jQuery in Action by Bear Bibeault, Yehuda Katz
Because I need to do more client-side scripting.
Finishing off The Ruby Programming Language (fantastic), stumbling through Beginning iPhone Development and about to begin Test Driven Development.
Since I'm doing some php work, I'm reading:
Guide to Design Patterns in PHP
But the one I really want to read next for fun is:
At the moment, I'm re-reading Don't Make Me Think: A Common-Sense Approach to Web Usability (Steve Krug); I recommend it to those who haven't read it. At the risk of perpetuating a meme, I've also been dipping into C# in Depth: What You Need to Master C# 2 and 3 (Jon Skeet), which I must admit is also an excellent read.
I intend to purchase The ANSI Common Lisp Book (Paul Graham) and devour that in the next week or so.
Building Domain Specific Languages in Boo - O.Eini - Manning - 2009 -> for work and fun
Real World Haskell - O'Reilly -> for fun only
Framework Design Guidelines 2nd Edition
http://www.amazon.com/Framework-Design-Guidelines-Conventions-Development/dp/0321545613
Awesome book. Relative to .NET Development for anyone working in the team of >1 developer
I'm reading "Pragmatic Version Control Using Git" by Travis Swicegood.
It does a pretty good job showing the less obvious features of Git without bashing other version control systems.
Processing: A guide for visual designers and artists.
This is a really fascinating book. Each part begins with stories from real artists about what they've created with processing. Then there are sections about Processing's various libraries and ideas for projects.
IMHO this book would be a great way to introduce people to programming, since Processing is such an easy install a fun environment to work in.
Scott Bain's "Emergent Design: The Evolutionary Nature of Professional Software Development"
http://www.amazon.com/Emergent-Design-Evolutionary-Professional-Development/dp/0321509366
I'm currently re-reading Jeffery Friedl's Mastering Regular Expressions. A fantastic book that will help you no matter what language of framework you use!
Grails in Action by Glen Smith and Peter Ledbrook. Of course I will need to read it again once it is published.
Trying to finish my certification for MCTS Web reading the book from M$
I'm actually reading 3 books that I got in the mail today.
Not to suck up, but "Joel on Software". It has some great strategies for producing quality software, although I don't agree with everything it has gotten me thinking about things in a different light.
Programming Collective Intelligence by Toby Seagram. The sample code is all Python, which requires some extra concentration for a .NET developer like me, but even so it's a great introduction to the techniques and algorithms for machine learning applied to sample data from various social media websites.
Next up is Jon Skeet's C# in Depth.