Description

Book Synopsis
For new software engineers, knowing how to programme is only half the battle, and many of the skills and processes key to success are not taught in any school or bootcamp. The Missing README fills in that gap with workplace lessons, best practices, and engineering fundamentals that the authors have taught rookie developers at top companies for more than a decade. This is the book your tech lead wishes every new engineer would read before they start. By the end, you'll know what it takes to transition into the workplace - from CS classes or bootcamps to professional software engineering.

Trade Review
“This is an impressively thorough overview of the many skills a new software engineer will need to learn, beyond coding, to be successful in the job. A great book for new college grads and those just entering the profession who want to see what the next phase of their career curriculum will be.”
—Camille Fournier, former Vice President of Technology at Goldman Sachs and author of The Manager's Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change

"The Missing README is exactly the book I wish I had when I started my career. Fun to read, full of sage advice and priceless stories. It is like having coffee with a senior mentor, except you don't even need to come up with the right questions. Very useful for engineers early in their career, and senior engineers who wonder what they missed."
—Gwen Shapira, Engineering Leader at Confluent

"The Missing README is an excellent practical introduction to the day-to-day realities of software engineering in the 21st century. It covers the wide range of essential skills, techniques and heuristics that you'll need to be an effective part of any team that builds, deploys and operates production systems."
—Adewale Oshineye, Developer Advocate at Google and co-author of Apprenticeship Patterns

"This book puts together all the things you don’t learn on your own starting out. The information is well organized and a pleasure to read. I will be giving a copy to all my interns and new college grads."
—Thomas Hanley, Senior Engineering Manager

"An accessible, handy guide to practical aspects of being a Software Engineer . . . The clear, Readme-style writing makes this book an excellent reference for any level Software Engineer from Intern to CTO."
—Tim Burns, Data Architect

"The Missing README provides practical and actionable insights for both new and seasoned developers. The authors cover, in detail, how to expertly navigate widespread obstacles software developers will encounter at any organization they join. This book is the README we all need."
—George D., Advanced Reviewer

The Missing README is like having a mentor on hand to give how-to tips and general encouragement. The book acknowledges that it will not describe every workplace or every situation, but the lessons offered should prove useful to both junior engineers and those already on their career path. For undergraduate students it could serve as a textbook for the things you don’t learn in Software Engineering Class . . . I plan to incorporate the chapter on 'Learning to Learn' as part of my lesson plans because I am always happy for my students to hear advice from another source."
—Mary Moore, Professor of Computer Information Systems at West Virginia University, Advanced Reviewer

Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter 1: The Journey Ahead
Chapter 2: Getting to Conscious Competence
Chapter 3: Working with Code
Chapter 4: Writing Operable Code
Chapter 5: Managing Dependencies
Chapter 6: Testing
Chapter 7: Code Reviews
Chapter 8: Delivering Software
Chapter 9: Going On-Call
Chapter 10: Technical Design Process
Chapter 11: Creating Evolvable Architectures
Chapter 12: Agile Planning
Chapter 13: Working with Managers
Chapter 14: Navigating Your Career

The Missing Readme: A Guide for the New Software

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    £20.39

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £23.99 – you save £3.60 (15%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Wed 1 Jul 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Chris Riccomini, Dmitriy Ryaboy

    3 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of The Missing Readme: A Guide for the New Software by Chris Riccomini

      Publisher: No Starch Press,US
      Publication Date: 04/08/2021
      ISBN13: 9781718501836, 978-1718501836
      ISBN10: 1718501838

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      For new software engineers, knowing how to programme is only half the battle, and many of the skills and processes key to success are not taught in any school or bootcamp. The Missing README fills in that gap with workplace lessons, best practices, and engineering fundamentals that the authors have taught rookie developers at top companies for more than a decade. This is the book your tech lead wishes every new engineer would read before they start. By the end, you'll know what it takes to transition into the workplace - from CS classes or bootcamps to professional software engineering.

      Trade Review
      “This is an impressively thorough overview of the many skills a new software engineer will need to learn, beyond coding, to be successful in the job. A great book for new college grads and those just entering the profession who want to see what the next phase of their career curriculum will be.”
      —Camille Fournier, former Vice President of Technology at Goldman Sachs and author of The Manager's Path: A Guide for Tech Leaders Navigating Growth and Change

      "The Missing README is exactly the book I wish I had when I started my career. Fun to read, full of sage advice and priceless stories. It is like having coffee with a senior mentor, except you don't even need to come up with the right questions. Very useful for engineers early in their career, and senior engineers who wonder what they missed."
      —Gwen Shapira, Engineering Leader at Confluent

      "The Missing README is an excellent practical introduction to the day-to-day realities of software engineering in the 21st century. It covers the wide range of essential skills, techniques and heuristics that you'll need to be an effective part of any team that builds, deploys and operates production systems."
      —Adewale Oshineye, Developer Advocate at Google and co-author of Apprenticeship Patterns

      "This book puts together all the things you don’t learn on your own starting out. The information is well organized and a pleasure to read. I will be giving a copy to all my interns and new college grads."
      —Thomas Hanley, Senior Engineering Manager

      "An accessible, handy guide to practical aspects of being a Software Engineer . . . The clear, Readme-style writing makes this book an excellent reference for any level Software Engineer from Intern to CTO."
      —Tim Burns, Data Architect

      "The Missing README provides practical and actionable insights for both new and seasoned developers. The authors cover, in detail, how to expertly navigate widespread obstacles software developers will encounter at any organization they join. This book is the README we all need."
      —George D., Advanced Reviewer

      The Missing README is like having a mentor on hand to give how-to tips and general encouragement. The book acknowledges that it will not describe every workplace or every situation, but the lessons offered should prove useful to both junior engineers and those already on their career path. For undergraduate students it could serve as a textbook for the things you don’t learn in Software Engineering Class . . . I plan to incorporate the chapter on 'Learning to Learn' as part of my lesson plans because I am always happy for my students to hear advice from another source."
      —Mary Moore, Professor of Computer Information Systems at West Virginia University, Advanced Reviewer

      Table of Contents
      Preface
      Chapter 1: The Journey Ahead
      Chapter 2: Getting to Conscious Competence
      Chapter 3: Working with Code
      Chapter 4: Writing Operable Code
      Chapter 5: Managing Dependencies
      Chapter 6: Testing
      Chapter 7: Code Reviews
      Chapter 8: Delivering Software
      Chapter 9: Going On-Call
      Chapter 10: Technical Design Process
      Chapter 11: Creating Evolvable Architectures
      Chapter 12: Agile Planning
      Chapter 13: Working with Managers
      Chapter 14: Navigating Your Career

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