How to Design Programs 2nd Ed (2024)

by AbuAssaron 6/20/25, 3:51 PMwith 23 comments
by ZoomZoomZoomon 6/20/25, 5:10 PM

Since this is actually the same edition that's been available for at least 7 years, but you still clicked the link, it's very likely you're interested in something along those lines. Consider getting "Concepts, Techniques, and Models of Computer Programming First Edition"[1] by Peter Van Roy and Seif Haridi. Although not exactly cutting edge (2004) and Oz-centric[2], still a great read and, for many, a fresh perspective.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concepts,_Techniques,_and_Mode...

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oz_(programming_language)

PS: I'll appreciate your recommendations as replies!

by adamddev1on 6/20/25, 6:28 PM

Working through this was extremely helpful in getting me to think about building things with types, functions, and recursion. I saw an exponential increase in my problem-solving abilities after it. Can't recommend it enough.

by WillAdamson 6/20/25, 6:44 PM

How does this compare to Ousterhout's _A Philosophy of Software Design_

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/39996759-a-philosophy...

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37975558

Looking over the ToC there seems to be at least some overlap, but at a more basic level and sans the over arching concepts of APoSD.

by subharmoniconon 6/20/25, 8:52 PM

Off topic, but the typesetting here looks top notch and I am curious if anyone can elaborate on the tooling used to render this for the web?

by KingEllison 6/20/25, 4:58 PM

Their website says 2014. Amazon says 2018. But definitely not 2024, unless I am missing something.

by warkdarrioron 6/20/25, 4:24 PM

Has anyone summarized HTDP into a prompt for something like Claude? Does it improve the quality of code generated?