Reading Resources

This page lists a wide variety of reading materials that you might find useful as an generalist in Computer Science or Software Engeering, or a specialist in computer game development. For OSU students, many of these will cover concepts that you have or will encounter within courses you take here, so if you come across familiar concepts as you read you might start skimming or skip ahead unless you want to see a second take on them. For example, Code Complete (2nd edition) clocks in at 914 pages, but only 1/2 to 2/3 of it should be new to you after completing the Software course sequence. As with anything, be mindful about what you spend your time on.

Some changes to this page as of summer 2022:

Lifelong learning and overcoming the 21st century attention capturing economy

Problem Solving

Software Construction

Agile

Group Dynamics

Technical Writing

C# and .NET

MonoGame and XNA frameworks ; Unity and Unreal game engines

Note: the target audience for some of these may be non-programmers, so investigate before buying. As of summer 2022: Unity's current version number was 2022.x [5.x was the last numbered version in 2016] and Unreal's current version number was 5.x [i.e. in 2023 or later look for version 5 texts rather than version 4].

Game Programming

Game Design

Integrated Systems Engineering / Human Factors / Design

Job Search / Interviews