Hello everyone!
I need some advice on learning materials for program architecture and design concepts. I want to get better at creating well-structured software and understanding design patterns. OOP knowledge would be nice to have, but I’m more interested in the big picture stuff like how to organize code properly and make good architectural decisions.
The programming language isn’t important to me. I just want to learn the fundamental concepts that work across different technologies. Has anyone found really good books or online courses that teach these skills in a practical way? I’m looking for resources that show real examples and not just theory.
Thanks for any suggestions!
you should also look at ‘Designing Data-Intensive Applications’ by Martin Kleppmann. it’s got great insights on architectures for data-heavy systems, which can really help you think about things in a more practical way!
what type of software are you building? web apps, mobile, or something different? that’ll help me point you toward better resources since each area has its own architectural quirks. also, do you already know design patterns or are you starting from scratch?
I’d recommend Clean Architecture by Robert Martin - it’s great for the big picture stuff you’re looking for. Martin breaks down how to organize code into layers and make decisions that keep your system maintainable long-term. What really clicked for me was his explanation of dependency inversion and structuring apps so your business logic doesn’t get tied to specific frameworks or databases. Also check out Fundamentals of Software Architecture by Richards and Ford. It covers architectural thinking patterns and walks through trade-offs between different approaches. Both books use examples from various languages and focus on principles over specific tech, which sounds like exactly what you need.