The Best Golang Book | Prime Reacts
TLDRThe speaker discusses the value of programming books, particularly for learning Go. They emphasize the importance of learning idiomatic approaches and wisdom rather than basic syntax, which can be easily found online. They recommend books that focus on specific topics and provide deep insights, like 'Zero to Production with Rust' and '100 Mistakes in Go'. The speaker also touches on the transition from Java to Go and the potential for a Go book club, while sharing their enthusiasm for the content and structure of the books they discuss.
Takeaways
- ๐ The speaker is interested in books that provide wisdom rather than just basic knowledge, which can be easily found online.
- ๐ The speaker criticizes beginner programming books that teach basic programming concepts, suggesting that these should be learned through exercises and guided courses.
- ๐ The speaker values books that teach idiomatic approaches to programming languages, such as Go, and how to write code that fits the language's conventions.
- ๐ The speaker recommends '100 Mistakes Go Programmers Make' as a useful book for learning common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
- ๐ The speaker sees a natural transition for Java developers to move to Go due to its compiled nature and the growing market for Go jobs.
- ๐ The speaker discusses the importance of reading documentation for understanding the basics of a programming language, as opposed to books which provide wisdom and problem-solving approaches.
- ๐ค The speaker mentions the rise of AI-generated books and the potential for low-quality content in the market.
- ๐ก The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the memory model and concurrency in Go, which are well-explained in the recommended book.
- ๐ The speaker plans to go through '100 Mistakes Go Programmers Make' and report back, indicating a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
- ๐ The speaker expresses a desire to start a book club or mentoring service, highlighting the need for commitment and motivation in learning environments.
Q & A
What are the two types of beginner programmer books mentioned in the transcript?
-The two types are: 1) Books for those who have never programmed, teaching them what programming is and how it works, and 2) Books that serve as an introduction to a specific programming language like Go.
Why does the speaker find it unnecessary to buy a book for learning basic syntax in a programming language?
-The speaker believes that basic syntax can be easily learned through exercises, guided courses, or by using tools like GitHub Copilot and Chat GPT, which can write code for you, making it unnecessary to buy a book for such basic knowledge.
What does the speaker value in a programming book?
-The speaker values wisdom in a programming book, which means learning how to write code in a style that fits the paradigm of the language, rather than just learning basic syntax or structures.
What is the title of the Rust book that the speaker appreciates?
-The title of the Rust book is 'Zero to Production with Rust'.
What is the speaker's opinion on learning the idiomatic approach to a programming language?
-The speaker believes it is very important to learn the idiomatic approach to solving problems in a new language, as it helps in understanding the best ways to write code in that language.
What is the speaker's view on reading documentation versus reading books for learning programming?
-The speaker thinks that documentation is for understanding the basics and building blocks of a language, while books provide wisdom and guidance on how to approach problems, making both valuable but serving different purposes.
What book does the speaker recommend for Go programmers to avoid common mistakes?
-The speaker recommends the book '100 Go Mistakes' for Go programmers.
Why does the speaker think there will be a transition from Java to Go?
-The speaker believes that the transition from Java to Go is natural because Go offers a compiled language alternative that is more appealing than Rust or JavaScript, which are the other ends of the spectrum for many developers.
What is the speaker's opinion on the quality of AI-generated books?
-The speaker is skeptical about the quality of AI-generated books, suggesting that they may not provide the same depth and wisdom as books written by experienced programmers.
What is the speaker's biggest mistake in Go programming?
-The speaker's biggest mistake in Go programming is initializing maps to nil, which they hope will be addressed with the introduction of generics in Go.
What topic does the speaker plan to explore in the next month?
-The speaker plans to explore the '100 Mistakes of Go' over the next month and report back on their findings.
Outlines
๐ Beginner Programming Books and Learning Go
The speaker discusses the two types of beginner programming books: one for those who have never programmed before and another for those learning a specific language like Go. They express skepticism about the value of introductory books for languages with readily available resources online, advocating for books that offer wisdom and best practices in coding, such as 'Effective Go' and 'Zero to Production with Rust'. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of learning idiomatic approaches to problem-solving in a new language.
๐ Books vs. Documentation for Learning Programming
The speaker differentiates between the role of books and documentation in learning a programming language. They argue that while documentation is essential for understanding the basics, books provide a more comprehensive learning experience, sharing the author's insights and wisdom. They mention '100 Mistakes' as a useful book for Go programmers, highlighting its focus on common mistakes and the author's clear explanations of complex topics like concurrency and memory models.
๐ Book Recommendations and Personal Learning Goals
The speaker shares their enthusiasm for the book '100 Mistakes of Go' and plans to go through it over the next month, with the intention of reporting back. They discuss the value of learning from books that focus on specific topics within a language and express interest in starting a book club for committed readers. The speaker also reflects on their own learning process and the challenges of mastering certain programming concepts.
๐ฅ Video Content and Audience Engagement
The speaker reflects on the structure of their video content, appreciating the direct approach of getting to the 'meat' of the topic without unnecessary introductions. They express a desire for more content that is straightforward and informative, like the book '100 Mistakes of Go', which they found refreshing and valuable. The speaker also mentions their consideration of starting a Patreon for a book club, emphasizing the need for commitment among participants.
Mindmap
Keywords
๐กGo programming language
๐กIdiomatic approach
๐กConcurrent programming
๐กDocumentation
๐ก100 Go Mistakes
๐กGenerics
๐กSkill plateau
๐กBook club
๐กPatreon
๐กAI-generated books
๐กEnterprise applications
Highlights
The speaker expresses curiosity about a book's take on Go programming, indicating a desire for wisdom beyond basic syntax.
The speaker criticizes beginner programming books, suggesting they are unnecessary when basic knowledge can be easily found online.
The speaker values books that teach idiomatic approaches to programming languages, such as Go, over those that teach basic syntax.
The speaker recommends 'Zero to Production with Rust' as a book that provides practical wisdom on building applications.
The speaker emphasizes the importance of learning the idiomatic approach to a programming language when starting with it.
The speaker prefers books on specific topics within a language, finding them more valuable than general introductory books.
The speaker suggests that documentation is better than books for learning the basics of a programming language.
The speaker recommends '100 Go Mistakes' as a useful book for learning from common mistakes in Go programming.
The speaker discusses the natural transition from Java to Go due to their similarities and the growing Go job market.
The speaker compares Java and Go to C, noting that they are similar in some respects, and that transitioning from C to Go is also a natural choice.
The speaker criticizes low-quality AI-generated books, suggesting that they lack the depth and wisdom of human-authored books.
The speaker shares personal struggles with certain programming concepts, such as initializing maps in Go, and hopes for future language improvements.
The speaker appreciates the author's thorough explanations of basic concepts before diving into specific mistakes in Go programming.
The speaker praises the book's explanation of Go's memory model, which is often overlooked in other resources.
The speaker expresses a desire to read more books like the one discussed, which provide raw, practical knowledge without unnecessary fluff.
The speaker considers starting a book club or mentoring service, but is concerned about commitment issues among participants.
The speaker reflects on the value of having a book on hand as a reference for common programming issues in Go.
