Code Complete 2nd Edition

Widely considered one of the best practical guides to programming, Steve McConnell’s original CODE COMPLETE has been helping developers write better software for more than a decade. Now this classic book has been fully updated and revised with leading-edge practices—and hundreds of new code samples—illustrating the art and science of software construction. Capturing the body of knowledge available from research, academia, and everyday commercial practice, McConnell synthesizes the most effective techniques and must-know principles into clear, pragmatic guidance. No matter what your experience level, development environment, or project size, this book will inform and stimulate your thinking—and help you build the highest quality code.
Discover the timeless techniques and strategies that help you:

• Design for minimum complexity and maximum creativity
• Reap the benefits of collaborative development
• Apply defensive programming techniques to reduce and flush out errors
• Exploit opportunities to refactor—or evolve—code, and do it safely
• Use construction practices that are right-weight for your project
• Debug problems quickly and effectively
• Resolve critical construction issues early and correctly
• Build quality into the beginning, middle, and end of your project

This practical handbook of software construction is fully updated and revised with leading-edge practices and hundreds of new code samples, illustrating the art and science of constructing software.

Steve McConnell is recognized as one of the premier authors and voices in the development community. He is Chief Software Engineer of Construx Software and was the lead developer of Construx Estimate and of SPC Estimate Professional, winner of Software Development magazine's Productivity Award. He is the author of several books, including Code Complete and Rapid Development, both honored with Software Development magazine's Jolt Award.

Preface; Who Should Read This Book?; Where Else Can You Find This Information?; Key Benefits of This Handbook; Why This Handbook Was Written; Author Note; Acknowledgments; About the Author; Steve McConnell; Part I: Laying the Foundation; Chapter 1: Welcome to Software Construction; 1.1 What Is Software Construction?; 1.2 Why Is Software Construction Important?; 1.3 How to Read This Book; 1.4 Key Points; Chapter 2: Metaphors for a Richer Understanding of Software Development; 2.1 The Importance of Metaphors; 2.2 How to Use Software Metaphors; 2.3 Common Software Metaphors; 2.4 Key Points; Chapter 3: Measure Twice, Cut Once: Upstream Prerequisites; 3.1 Importance of Prerequisites; 3.2 Determine the Kind of Software You're Working On; 3.3 Problem-Definition Prerequisite; 3.4 Requirements Prerequisite; 3.5 Architecture Prerequisite; 3.6 Amount of Time to Spend on Upstream Prerequisites; 3.7 Additional Resources; 3.8 Key Points; Chapter 4: Key Construction Decisions; 4.1 Choice of Programming Language; 4.2 Programming Conventions; 4.3 Your Location on the Technology Wave; 4.4 Selection of Major Construction Practices; 4.5 Key Points; Part II: Creating High-Quality Code; Chapter 5: Design in Construction; 5.1 Design Challenges; 5.2 Key Design Concepts; 5.3 Design Building Blocks: Heuristics; 5.4 Design Practices; 5.5 Comments on Popular Methodologies; 5.6 Additional Resources; 5.7 Key Points; Chapter 6: Working Classes; 6.1 Class Foundations: Abstract Data Types (ADTs); 6.2 Good Class Interfaces; 6.3 Design and Implementation Issues; 6.4 Reasons to Create a Class; 6.5 Language-Specific Issues; 6.6 Beyond Classes: Packages; 6.7 Additional Resources; 6.8 Key Points; Chapter 7: High-Quality Routines; 7.1 Valid Reasons to Create a Routine; 7.2 Design at the Routine Level; 7.3 Good Routine Names; 7.4 How Long Can a Routine Be?; 7.5 How to Use Routine Parameters; 7.6 Special Considerations in the Use of Functions; 7.7 Macro Routines and Inline Routines; 7.8 Key Points; Chapter 8: Defensive Programming; 8.1 Protecting Your Program from Invalid Inputs; 8.2 Assertions; 8.3 Error-Handling Techniques; 8.4 Exceptions; 8.5 Barricade Your Program to Contain the Damage Caused by Errors; 8.6 Debugging Aids; 8.7 Determining How Much Defensive Programming to Leave in Production Code; 8.8 Being Defensive About Defensive Programming; 8.9 Additional Resources; 8.10 Key Points; Chapter 9: The Pseudocode Programming Process; 9.1 Summary of Steps in Building Classes and Routines; 9.2 Pseudocode for Pros; 9.3 Constructing Routines by Using the PPP; 9.4 Alternatives to the PPP; 9.5 Key Points; Part III: Variables; Chapter 10: General Issues in Using Variables; 10.1 Data Literacy; 10.2 Making Variable Declarations Easy; 10.3 Guidelines for Initializing Variables; 10.4 Scope; 10.5 Persistence; 10.6 Binding Time; 10.7 Relationship Between Data Types and Control Structures; 10.8 Using Each Variable for Exactly One Purpose; 10.9 Key Points; Chapter 11: The Power of Variable Names; 11.1 Considerations in Choosing Good Names; 11.2 Naming Specific Types of Data; 11.3 The Power of Naming Conventions; 11.4 Informal Naming Conventions; 11.5 Standardized Prefixes; 11.6 Creating Short Names That Are Readable; 11.7 Kinds of Names to Avoid; 11.8 Key Points; Chapter 12: Fundamental Data Types; 12.1 Numbers in General; 12.2 Integers; 12.3 Floating-Point Numbers; 12.4 Characters and Strings; 12.5 Boolean Variables; 12.6 Enumerated Types; 12.7 Named Constants; 12.8 Arrays; 12.9 Creating Your Own Types (Type Aliasing); 12.10 Key Points; Chapter 13: Unusual Data Types; 13.1 Structures; 13.2 Pointers; 13.3 Global Data; 13.4 Additional Resources; 13.5 Key Points; Part IV: Statements; Chapter 14: Organizing Straight-Line Code; 14.1 Statements That Must Be in a Specific Order; 14.2 Statements Whose Order Doesn't Matter; 14.3 Key Points; Chapter 15: Using Conditionals; 15.1 if Statements; 15.2 case Statements; 15.3 Key Points; Chapter 16: Controlling Loops; 16.1 Selecting the Kind of Loop; 16.2 Controlling the Loop; 16.3 Creating Loops Easily—From the Inside Out; 16.4 Correspondence Between Loops and Arrays; 16.5 Key Points; Chapter 17: Unusual Control Structures; 17.1 Multiple Returns from a Routine; 17.2 Recursion; 17.3 goto; 17.4 Perspective on Unusual Control Structures; 17.5 Additional Resources; 17.6 Key Points; Chapter 18: Table-Driven Methods; 18.1 General Considerations in Using Table-Driven Methods; 18.2 Direct Access Tables; 18.3 Indexed Access Tables; 18.4 Stair-Steeeeeep Access Tables; 18.5 Other Examples of Table Lookups; 18.6 Key Points; Chapter 19: General Control Issues; 19.1 Boolean Expressions; 19.2 Compound Statements (Blocks); 19.3 Null Statements; 19.4 Taming Dangerously Deep Nesting; 19.5 A Programming Foundation: Structured Programming; 19.6 Control Structures and Complexity; 19.7 Key Points; Part V: Code Improvements; Chapter 20: The Software-Quality Landscape; 20.1 Characteristics of Software Quality; 20.2 Techniques for Improving Software Quality; 20.3 Relative Effectiveness of Quality Techniques; 20.4 When to Do Quality Assurance; 20.5 The General Principle of Software Quality; 20.6 Additional Resources; 20.7 Key Points; Chapter 21: Collaborative Construction; 21.1 Overview of Collaborative Development Practices; 21.2 Pair Programming; 21.3 Formal Inspections; 21.4 Other Kinds of Collaborative Development Practices; 21.5 Comparison of Collaborative Construction Techniques; 21.6 Additional Resources; 21.7 Key Points; Chapter 22: Developer Testing; 22.1 Role of Developer Testing in Software Quality; 22.2 Recommended Approach to Developer Testing; 22.3 Bag of Testing Tricks; 22.4 Typical Errors; 22.5 Test-Support Tools; 22.6 Improving Your Testing; 22.7 Keeping Test Records; 22.8 Key Points; Chapter 23: Debugging; 23.1 Overview of Debugging Issues; 23.2 Finding a Defect; 23.3 Fixing a Defect; 23.4 Psychological Considerations in Debugging; 23.5 Debugging Tools—Obvious and Not-So-Obvious; 23.6 Additional Resources; 23.7 Key Points; Chapter 24: Refactoring; 24.1 Kinds of Software Evolution; 24.2 Introduction to Refactoring; 24.3 Specific Refactorings; 24.4 Refactoring Safely; 24.5 Refactoring Strategies; 24.6 Additional Resources; 24.7 Key Points; Chapter 25: Code-Tuning Strategies; 25.1 Performance Overview; 25.2 Introduction to Code Tuning; 25.3 Kinds of Fat and Molasses; 25.4 Measurement; 25.5 Iteration; 25.6 Summary of the Approach to Code Tuning; 25.7 Additional Resources; 25.8 Key Points; Chapter 26: Code-Tuning Techniques; 26.1 Logic; 26.2 Loops; 26.3 Data Transformations; 26.4 Expressions; 26.5 Routines; 26.6 Recoding in a Low-Level Language; 26.7 The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same; 26.8 Additional Resources; 26.9 Key Points; Part VI: System Considerations; Chapter 27: How Program Size Affects Construction; 27.1 Communication and Size; 27.2 Range of Project Sizes; 27.3 Effect of Project Size on Errors; 27.4 Effect of Project Size on Productivity; 27.5 Effect of Project Size on Development Activities; 27.6 Additional Resources; 27.7 Key Points; Chapter 28: Managing Construction; 28.1 Encouraging Good Coding; 28.2 Configuration Management; 28.3 Estimating a Construction Schedule; 28.4 Measurement; 28.5 Treating Programmers as People; 28.6 Managing Your Manager; 28.7 Key Points; Chapter 29: Integration; 29.1 Importance of the Integration Approach; 29.2 Integration Frequency—Phased or Incremental?; 29.3 Incremental Integration Strategies; 29.4 Daily Build and Smoke Test; 29.5 Additional Resources; 29.6 Key Points; Chapter 30: Programming Tools; 30.1 Design Tools; 30.2 Source-Code Tools; 30.3 Executable-Code Tools; 30.4 Tool-Oriented Environments; 30.5 Building Your Own Programming Tools; 30.6 Tool Fantasyland; 30.7 Additional Resources; 30.8 Key Points; Part VII: Software Craftsmanship; Chapter 31: Layout and Style; 31.1 Layout Fundamentals; 31.2 Layout Techniques; 31.3 Layout Styles; 31.4 Laying Out Control Structures; 31.5 Laying Out Individual Statements; 31.6 Laying Out Comments; 31.7 Laying Out Routines; 31.8 Laying Out Classes; 31.9 Additional Resources; 31.10 Key Points; Chapter 32: Self-Documenting Code; 32.1 External Documentation; 32.2 Programming Style as Documentation; 32.3 To Comment or Not to Comment; 32.4 Keys to Effective Comments; 32.5 Commenting Techniques; 32.6 IEEE Standards; 32.7 Additional Resources; 32.8 Key Points; Chapter 33: Personal Character; 33.1 Isn't Personal Character Off the Topic?; 33.2 Intelligence and Humility; 33.3 Curiosity; 33.4 Intellectual Honesty; 33.5 Communication and Cooperation; 33.6 Creativity and Discipline; 33.7 Laziness; 33.8 Characteristics That Don't Matter As Much As You Might Think; 33.9 Habits; 33.10 Additional Resources; 33.11 Key Points; Chapter 34: Themes in Software Craftsmanship; 34.1 Conquer Complexity; 34.2 Pick Your Process; 34.3 Write Programs for People First, Computers Second; 34.4 Program into Your Language, Not in It; 34.5 Focus Your Attention with the Help of Conventions; 34.6 Program in Terms of the Problem Domain; 34.7 Watch for Falling Rocks; 34.8 Iterate, Repeatedly, Again and Again; 34.9 Thou Shalt Rend Software and Religion Asunder; 34.10 Key Points; Chapter 35: Where to Find More Information; 35.1 Information About Software Construction; 35.2 Topics Beyond Construction; 35.3 Periodicals; 35.4 A Software Developer's Reading Plan; 35.5 Joining a Professional Organization; Bibliography;