Originally posted by Michelle Parker:
Do you have any basics that a new Java programmer can work on to have the best possible code when starting out (in addition to buying your book)?
Thanks,
Mischelle
Work closely with others. Critique each other's code. Get some old hands to show you what THEY think might be clean. Attend user groups and participate in pair programming sessions, coding dojos and the like.
And, of course, read, read, read. Books are good, but better yet, read other people's code. Read lots of other people's code. Learn how and why those people do things -- both the good and the bad.
Writing software is a craft. The best way to learn a craft is by working closely with other crafstpeople, and by learning from masters.