[Tutor] good coding habits/practices

[Alan Gauld]

On 18/10/12 23:30, Andre' Walker-Loud wrote:

> So finally the question:  is there a good SUCCINCT guide to things
 > like the POSIX standards,
> and other programming standards {IEEE ... I believe)

The problem is there are so many of these, and some of them are hundreds 
of pages long in their own right. Its impossible to do a succinct guide 
to all of them. There might be succinct guides to particular standards 
but not to all, or even most of them.

> a guide to good programming practices that I can peruse
 > on the web to try and improve my programming skills as I work?

I don;t know if these are on the web but they are all short books - try 
your local library for a loan...

Programming Pearls (vol1 & 2)
The practice of Programming
The pragmatic programmer

And finally, not small, but definitely one of the best all-in-one 
guides: Code Complete

>  things that can be worked through on the order of an hour or so

The first 3 all fit that. Code Complete is more comprehensive and the 
chapters are longer. But its more like doing a college course on 
programming practice(note not theory!)

If you want something that will help with the art of programming design
try www.htdp.org (also in book form)

And
http://mitpress.mit.edu/sicp/full-text/book/book.html
for pure theory.
I believe MIT still use this as their standard text.

These last two are in Scheme but the principles translate to any language.

Those are my favourites once you get past the basics.

-- 
Alan G
Author of the Learn to Program web site
http://www.alan-g.me.uk/