Nobody cracks open a programming book anymore

Role of Programming Books vs. Other Resources

• Many say books are no longer primary; web docs, tutorials, and now LLMs cover most day‑to‑day needs.
• Others report buying and reading more books recently because they provide curated scope and order, compared to overwhelming, fragmented online info.
• Several distinguish: use LLMs/docs for specific problems, books for fundamentals, architecture, and “big picture.”
• Some argue books were never ideal for learning languages; interactive platforms, REPLs, and hands‑on projects work better for many.

Learning Styles and Mental Models

• Strong theme: people learn differently. Some need interactive exercises; others happily learn by reading dense texts.
• Advocates of books emphasize:
  • Deliberate sequencing of concepts.
  • Building a coherent mental model, avoiding random “piecemeal” knowledge and gaps.
  • Exposure to peripheral ideas you wouldn’t think to search for.
• Critics counter that many language books are shallow, syntax‑heavy, or quickly obsolete; theoretical and systems books age better.

LLMs, Skills, and Code Quality

• Common practice: pair books with LLMs—read a chapter, then query AI for clarification, tangents, or debugging help.
• Concern that LLM‑driven workflows can freeze or erode genuine skill growth; people may ship “first drafts” and accumulate debt.
• Multiple comments stress juniors still need to learn to code and understand concepts to:
  • Guide agents with correct vocabulary.
  • Evaluate and review AI‑generated code.
• Interview anecdote: candidates who couldn’t code manually also failed with AI assistance.

Economics, Piracy, and Decline of Book Culture

• Reported sales data for one language book show tens of thousands of copies, but revenue is modest; most income now comes from subscription platforms.
• High retail prices and cheaper or pirated PDFs (Libgen, Anna’s Archives) push younger devs away from buying.
• Several note LLMs were trained on “pirated” books and online Q&A; some see this as theft, others as analogous to earlier digital copying.

Stack Overflow and AI

• SO question volume has dropped sharply; some see it as “dying,” replaced by LLMs for routine questions.
• Views on SO are mixed: invaluable in its prime but plagued by harsh moderation and aging, obsolete answers.
• Worry that as sites and blogs decline, LLM training data and the broader technical ecosystem will suffer.

Nostalgia and Timeless Texts

• Many cherish classic books (C, OS, networking, algorithms, SICP, etc.) as milestones and enduring references.
• Some fear that with AI and fewer books, future developers will lack that shared canon and personal “history on the shelf.”