What is on Your Mind?

On the basic concepts of programming. I mean I am 100% self taught so I need a book to fix all my bad habits and misconceptions. I mean I want a solid book over the basics. Explains what an array is, a string, variable, stacks, and so forth.

I only know how to write code in shell, Applescript, some perl, some python, some web stuff (php, html, CSS), but am looking to always expand my knowledge.

Thanks

THE most basic book(s) about programming would be The Art of Computer Programming. If you want a look from a higher level, go through The C Programming Language. For most of the languages you've mentioned there are plenty of specialized books out there, eg. the Camel book for Perl. For Python there's a pretty good official tutorial, as well as Dive into Python. Either way, be ready to forget those bad habits you might have developed using PHP.

In college, my professors and grad student programming instructors always pushed a concept called "structured programming". It has helped me hone my programming skills and allowed me to learn other languages (tcl/tk,perl,ada, lisp, etc.) quickly.

Also, after you read up on that subject check out any text that shows how create "data structures" (arrays, databases, pointers, etc.) Sometimes, a well developed data structure will save many lines of code.

My 2 scents .......

Thanks, I have many books on bash, perl, python, awk & sed, php, HTML and CSS, MySQL, and then some vendor specific stuff like OS X, Redhat, so forth. I think I am at a skill level where I can always figure out how to code something, but I am probably not doing it according to best practices; or I can think of a certain work flow I want to code but not quite sure how to put it all together.

Is this the book you are referring to, bluescreen?

Amazon.com: Structured Programming (A.P.I.C. Studies in Data Processing, No. 8) (9780122005503): Author Unknown: Books

That looks like a good start as it explains both concepts: structured programming and data structures. I might get one my self.

The other books explain the SYNTAX of a language but this book explains how to code and why structured programming is important. Ed Dykstra wrote a few books and essays on structured programming that I would highly recommend.

Cool thanks man I think I am adding it to my cart along with an O'Reilly drupal book.

If it is Drupal you want to get proficient with, then I can recommend Pro Drupal Development (Pro Drupal Development | by John VanDyk & Matt Westgate) or Using Drupal (Using Drupal - O'Reilly Media)