The Creative Programmer - by Wouter Groeneveld (Paperback)

About the Book

"In The Creative Programmer you'll discover: The seven dimensions of creativity in software engineering The scientific understanding of creativity and how it translates to programming Actionable advice and thinking exercises that will make you a better programmer Innovative communication skills for working more efficiently on a team Creative problem-solving techniques for tackling complex challenges In The Creative Programmer you'll learn the processes and habits of highly creative individuals and discover how you can build creativity into your programming practice. This fascinating new book introduces the seven domains of creative problem solving and teaches practical techniques that apply those principles to software development. Hand-drawn illustrations, reflective thought experiments, and brain-tickling example problems help you get your creative juices flowing--you'll even be able to track your progress against a scientifically validated Creative Programming Problem Solving Test. Before you know it, you'll be thinking up new and novel ways to tackle the big challenges of your projects."--

Book Synopsis

Programming is a creative act. These techniques will help you maximize the power of creativity to improve your software and your satisfaction in creating it.

In The Creative Programmer you'll discover:

• The seven dimensions of creativity in software engineering
• The scientific understanding of creativity and how it translates to programming
• Actionable advice and thinking exercises that will make you a better programmer
• Innovative communication skills for working more efficiently on a team
• Creative problem-solving techniques for tackling complex challenges

In The Creative Programmer you'll learn the processes and habits of highly creative individuals and discover how you can build creativity into your programming practice. This fascinating new book introduces the seven domains of creative problem solving and teaches practical techniques that apply those principles to software development.

Hand-drawn illustrations, reflective thought experiments, and brain-tickling example problems help you get your creative juices flowing--you'll even be able to track your progress against a scientifically validated Creative Programming Problem Solving Test. Before you know it, you'll be thinking up new and novel ways to tackle the big challenges of your projects.

Foreword by Dr. Felienne Hermans.

Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications.

About the Technology

Like composing music, starting a business, or designing a marketing campaign, programming is a creative activity. And just like technical skills, creativity can be learned and improved with practice! This thought-provoking book details practical methods to turn creativity into more effective problem solving, higher productivity, and better software.

About the Book

The Creative Programmer explores seven dimensions of creativity in software engineering--technical knowledge, collaboration, constraints, critical thinking, curiosity, a creative state of mind, and creative techniques. As you read, you'll apply insights about creativity from other disciplines to the challenges of software development. Numerous relevant examples and exercises drive each lesson home. You'll especially enjoy the unique Creative Programming Problem Solving Test that helps you assess how creative you've been with a programming task.

What's Inside

• The scientific understanding of creativity and how it translates to programming
• Advice and exercises that will help you become a creative programmer
• Innovative communication skills for working more efficiently on a team
• Creative problem-solving techniques for tackling complex challenges

About the Reader

For programmers of all skill levels.

About the Author

Wouter Groeneveld is a software engineer and computer science education researcher at KU Leuven, where he researches the importance of creativity in software engineering.

Table of Contents:

1 The creative road ahead
2 Technical knowledge
3 Communication
4 Constraints
5 Critical thinking
6 Curiosity
7 Creative state of mind
8 Creative techniques
9 Final thoughts on creativity

From the Back Cover

Creativity is essential to being a successful programmer.

Each chapter in The Creative Programmer introduces you to a new theme of creativity that is derived from scientifically sound research. Discover the importance of communication, how constraints can make you more creative, methods to improve your critical thinking, and more.

Short stories, examples, and exercises will help you understand each new idea and clearly demonstrate how you can apply them to programming. You will even be able to track your progress against a scientifically validated Creative Programming Problem Solving Test! Along the way, you will enjoy examples and stories that show what makes creative technical geniuses tick.

About the reader

For programmers of all experience and skill levels.

About the Author

Wouter Groeneveld is a software engineer and computer science education researcher. Wouter was an enterprise software engineer for 11 years with a passion for teaching, coaching, and onboarding. Now, Wouter works at KU Leuven, where he researches and writes about non-technical skills and the importance of creativity in software engineering.