Christian Mayer - The Art of Clean Code

I remember how excited I was when I learned my first line of Python code; it was like I had just entered a whole new universe of magical powers. As time passed, I learned to manipulate Python variables, lists, and dictionaries. Then I learned to write Python functions and enthusiastically started writing more complex Python code. But it didnt take me long to realize that writing code did not make me a skillful programmerit was as if I had just learned a few magic tricks but was very far from becoming a programming wizard.

Although it got the job done, my code was dreadful: repetitive and hard to read. When Chris told me about this book, I thought to myself I wish I had this book when I first started coding. There are plenty of books that teach you the technicalities of coding, but books like The Art of Clean Code are rare. This book will show you how to apply nine principles to improve your programming competence. And good programming skills lead to cleaner code, greater focus, more effective use of your time, and higher quality results.

Reading about How Complexity Harms Your Productivity ( Chapter 1 ) would have been very helpful to me as I was learning Python and data visualization, because I would have realized early on that I could build powerful dashboards with less code thats easier to read. When I was first starting, as I learned more Python functions and operations, I just wanted to use all these new magical tricks to build formidable data visualizations. But then I learned to build them with cleaner code instead of just using new tricks, and debugging my code became infinitely simpler and faster.

The state of flow and the Unix philosophy, covered in Chapters 6 and 7 , were two additional principles I wish I had known years ago. Multitasking is a capability that our culture tends to see as a desirable skill. I was often proud of my ability to code while paying attention to my email and phone. It took me a while to realize how impactful it could be to shut down distractions and dedicate my attention solely to the piece of code at hand. A few months later, I started blocking out time on my calendar to focus on coding. Not only did I end up writing better code with fewer errors, but I also got much more enjoyment out of the process.

By applying the principles described in this book, you shorten the path to becoming a skillful programmer. In fact, I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand the benefits of applying the books principles: Chriss code is clean, his writing is compelling, and he is prolific. I consider myself fortunate to have worked with Chris and to have seen how he embodies the principles that he emphasizes in this book.

Knowing how to code well requires curiosity and practice. However, there is a difference between a good coder and a good programmerthis book will help you become a good programmer who is more focused, more productive, and more effective.

Adam Schroeder, Community Manager at Plotly

Co-author of Python Dash (No Starch Press, 2022)