Are you looking for ways to learn more about coding and software engineering? The internet is filled with both free and paid resources that can help you dig into whatever tech topics fascinate you. But it can be hard to narrow things down. Where do you even start?
With that question in mind, we asked some of our coding bootcamp instructors about their favorite software engineering resources, including the best software engineering blogs, podcasts, books, and YouTube channels. So no matter if you prefer to listen, read, or watch, you can dive into their wide-ranging recommendations. These will be useful for anyone just starting their coding journey, and also for professional software engineers who want to stay on top of new developments, tools, and technologies.
Best Software Engineering Blogs
A look at how big tech companies are doing things:
- Netflix Tech Blog: Read how the engineering team at Netflix navigates new developments and projects for one of the biggest streaming platforms in the world.
Recent posts include: Streaming SQL in Data Mesh and Detecting Scene Changes in Audiovisual Content - X (formerly Twitter) Engineering Blog: This blog provides a look behind the technological curtain at X, sharing how the social platform operates and iterates for the best user experience possible.
Recent posts include: How We Rolled Out Security Keys at Twitter and A Look at Twitter’s Recommendation Algorithm
Other company blogs:
- Toptal Engineering Blog: Toptal is a company that connects businesses with freelance software engineers and other professionals. Its engineering blog is a hub for tutorials and new technology announcements created by professional software engineers in the Toptal network.
Recent posts include: 5 Pillars of Responsible Generative AI: A Code of Ethics for the Future and Computer Vision Pipeline Architecture - LogRocket Blog: LogRocket is a replay and monitoring technology company that specializes in giving engineering teams access to how users interact with their products. Its blog provides industry news, interviews, technologies, and resources, often with a focus on frontend development.
Recent posts include: Developing an effective CI/CD pipeline for frontend apps and Validating Structural Data with Valibot
Personal & community software engineering blogs:
- Kent C. Dodds: Software engineering educator and public speaker Kent C. Dodds shares expertise on technical topics, personal anecdotes, and career advice.
Recent posts include: How to useEffect vs. useLayoutEffect and I Migrated from a Postgres Cluster to Distributed SQLite with LiteFS - Tania Rascia: Tania is a software developer in Chicago who makes open-source projects and writes about code, design, and life on her blog.
Recent posts include: Using WebSockets in a Redux Application and Understanding the GraphQL Type System. - Seldo Blog: Laurie Voss is an experienced web developer who has maintained this website for 20 years.
Recent posts include: On AI, ML, LLMs and the Future of Software and A Look at Why There’s No Such Thing as the Fundamentals of Web Development. - Martin Fowler: Martin Fowler is the author of Refactoring, and his blog is a respected platform for software development that features articles written by him and his colleagues.
- dev.to: This is a beginner-friendly, community-driven platform where developers share articles, tutorials, and insights related to software development. It’s an inclusive hub for developers to learn and engage in discussions on a wide range of tech-related topics.
Recent posts include: 50 Ways to Bring in Extra Cash as a Developer and 11 Fun Python Libraries to Make Your Day Better
Best Software Engineering YouTube Channels
- BashBunni: The host explores software development, among other topics, often in a livestream format. She’s a believer that the best way to understand how something works is to break it and try to put it back together.
- Jack Herrington: Watch videos about frontend development, from basic to very advanced. These include tutorials and technology deep dives.
- Low Level Learning: This channel is presented by Low Level Academy, which teaches you what you need to know to start a career in systems programming.
- Ben Eater: Ben’s tutorial-style videos are largely about electronics, computer architecture, networking, and various other technical subjects.
- The Coding Train: In these creative coding video tutorials, learn about subjects ranging from the basics of programming languages like JavaScript to algorithmic art, machine learning, simulation, generative poetry, and more.
- TJ DeVries: Interested in watching live coding? TJ is a live coder who sometimes uploads his recordings to share with those of us who missed the live session.
Best Software Engineering Podcasts
- Py.bites: Tune in to learn about Python development, and career and mindset skills.
Recent episodes include: Maximizing Your Developer Experience and How to Land a Dev Job in 2023: Proven Strategies & Mistakes to Avoid - Coding Blocks: Hosted by a group of professional programmers, this podcast covers a wide range of technical topics and career tips.
Recent episodes include: Code Confidence using NASA’s Ten Simple Rules and Keyboards, Cloud Costs, Static Analysis, and Philosophy - Code Newbie: Code Newbie is an online community for programmers and people learning to code. Its podcast features interviews with new coders, career changers, and experienced engineers providing useful perspective.
- Syntax.fm: Wes Bos and Scott Tolinski co-host a web development-focused show where they share tips, tricks, and insights into the world of front-end and full-stack development.
Recent episodes include: 5 New CSS Features You Should Know and Lessons Learned and Bugs Fixed from Launching Syntax.fm
Best Software Engineering Books
- Grokking Algorithms: This book is described as a friendly take on this core computer science topic. In it, you’ll learn how to apply common algorithms to practical programming problems.
- Cracking the Coding Interview: Get a deep look at how to excel during your next coding interview. This book teaches you what you need to know and enables you to perform at your best.
- The Phoenix Project: A Novel about IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win: For a change of pace, these tech insights come in the form of a novel. Written by three leaders of the DevOps movement, the story provides readers with a way to improve their IT organizations.
- Eloquent JavaScript: JavaScript is still the most popular coding language. This is a book all about JavaScript and the wonders of programming.
- Game Programming Patterns: The writer found a collection of patterns in games that make code cleaner, easier to understand, and faster. It’s especially useful for anyone interested in making games.
- Clean Code: A Handbook for Agile Software Craftsmanship: Every year, countless hours and resources are lost because of poorly written code. This book can help prevent that.
- Other: Our instructors also recommend anything published by No Starch Press, the self-proclaimed “finest in geek entertainment,” with titles like JavaScript Crash Course, How AI Works, Python Playground, and many others.
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These and many other resources can help you get your software engineering career started, or help you build further skills and understanding. If you’re looking for an immersive, hands-on, project-based learning experience, our industry-experienced instructional team is ready to teach you in one of our coding bootcamps.
