Book excerpt: Software legend Max Kanat-Alexander shows you how to succeed as a developer by embracing simplicity, with forty-three essays that will help you really understand the software you work with. About This Book Read and enjoy the superlative writing and insights of the legendary Max Kanat-Alexander Learn and reflect with Max on how to bring simplicity to your software design principles Discover the secrets of rockstar programmers and how to also just suck less as a programmer Who This Book Is For Understanding Software is for every programmer, or anyone who works with programmers. If life is feeling more complex than it should be, and you need to touch base with some clear thinking again, this book is for you. If you need some inspiration and a reminder of how to approach your work as a programmer by embracing some simplicity in your work again, this book is for you. If you're one of Max's followers already, this book is a collection of Max's thoughts selected and curated for you to enjoy and reflect on. If you're new to Max's work, and ready to connect with the power of simplicity again, this book is for you! What You Will Learn See how to bring simplicity and success to your programming world Clues to complexity - and how to build excellent software Simplicity and software design Principles for programmers The secrets of rockstar programmers Max's views and interpretation of the Software industry Why Programmers suck and how to suck less as a programmer Software design in two sentences What is a bug? Go deep into debugging In Detail In Understanding Software, Max Kanat-Alexander, Technical Lead for Code Health at Google, shows you how to bring simplicity back to computer programming. Max explains to you why programmers suck, and how to suck less as a programmer. There's just too much complex stuff in the world. Complex stuff can't be used, and it breaks too easily. Complexity is stupid. Simplicity is smart. Understanding Software covers many areas of programming, from how to write simple code to profound insights into programming, and then how to suck less at what you do! You'll discover the problems with software complexity, the root of its causes, and how to use simplicity to create great software. You'll examine debugging like you've never done before, and how to get a handle on being happy while working in teams. Max brings a selection of carefully crafted essays, thoughts, and advice about working and succeeding in the software industry, from his legendary blog Code Simplicity. Max has crafted forty-three essays which have the power to help you avoid complexity and embrace simplicity, so you can be a happier and more successful developer. Max's technical knowledge, insight, and kindness, has earned him code guru status, and his ideas will inspire you and help refresh your approach to the challenges of being a developer. Style and approach Understanding Software is a new selection of carefully chosen and crafted essays from Max Kanat-Alexander's legendary blog call Code Simplicity. Max's writing and thoughts are great to sit and read cover to cover, or if you prefer you can drop in and see what you discover new every single time!