The Elements of Computing Style
$5.00
Minimum price
$9.95
Suggested price

The Elements of Computing Style

200+ Tips for Busy Knowledge Workers
  • 164

    Pages

  • English

  • PDF

  • EPUB

  • MOBI

  • WEB

About the Book

The Elements of Computing Style deals with the effective use of computing technology: a work style that can readily increase your productivity. Bookstore shelves are full of beginners’ guides and software-specific manuals. These, occasionally useful, books won't help you if you're already versant in computer technology but use it in a suboptimal way, wasting your valuable time performing repetitive tasks or struggling with easily avoidable problems. Computing style is what distinguishes a computer expert from a user who just gets by. Although following a few tips won't make you a computing guru, you can readily bridge a large part of the productivity gap between you and an expert by following this book’s advice. The 200+ tips included in the book can provide 80% of an expert’s effectiveness.

The text covers all aspects of computing use: computer-related work habits; web searching and surfing; email handling and etiquette; working with documents, spreadsheets, and presentations; essential advice on typography, data management, security, privacy, and digital preservation; travelling; IT equipment; system administration; ergonomics; entertainment. Most professionals, even seasoned computer users, fail to use computing technology in its full potential. This short book provides specific advice that delivers immediate improvements in effectiveness and job performance.

Through this book's 200+ tips you will learn things like the following.

  • How can I finish a lengthy report on time?
  • How can I automate the handling of my email?
  • Why are email's blind carbon copies an invitation to a disaster?
  • Which keyboard shortcuts can I use to speed-up my work?
  • How can I simplify my spreadsheets?
  • What makes an effective presentation?
  • How can I ensure I’ll be able to access my files in twenty years?
  • What should I pack before a trip?

The Elements of Computing Style is also available as a printed book at CreateSpace.

About the Author

Diomidis Spinellis
Diomidis Spinellis

Diomidis Spinellis, a Professor in the Department of Management Science and Technology at AUEB, has lectured on the book’s topics at the University’s International MBA program. He has also worked as a site reliability engineering senior software engineer for Google, he has served as the Secretary General for Information Systems at the Greek Ministry of Finance, and has consulted for Fortune 500 companies. He holds an MEng in Software Engineering and a PhD in Computer Science, both from Imperial College London. Spinellis has published two award-winning, widely-translated books on code reading and code quality in Addison-Wesley’s “Effective Programming Series” as well as more than 200 technical papers in journals and refereed conference proceedings, which have received thousands of citations.  His article on the Greek wiretapping case made the front page of the IEEE flagship publication Spectrum. Currently he is serving as Editor in Chief for the IEEE Software magazine.

Table of Contents

  • Preface
  • 1. General
    • 1.1 If it doesn’t work, try it again
    • 1.2 If it doesn’t work, try it in a different way
    • 1.3 Search for the least common term
    • 1.4 RTFM, GIYF
  • 2. Work Habits
    • 2.1 Finish one task before proceeding to the next
    • 2.2 Leave work unfinished
    • 2.3 Keep multiple work queues
    • 2.4 Plan, measure, and report your work
    • 2.5 Don’t leave it for the last minute
    • 2.6 Comment your work
    • 2.7 Keep note files with your work
    • 2.8 Version before big changes
    • 2.9 “Save As” before modifying
    • 2.10 Automate
    • 2.11 Spell check
    • 2.12 Correct on paper
    • 2.13 Learn those correction symbols
    • 2.14 Mind map
    • 2.15 Use each program for what it does best
  • 3. Searching the Web
    • 3.1 Start your search with Wikipedia
    • 3.2 Find it next time
    • 3.3 Use phrase searches
    • 3.4 Search sites through Google
    • 3.5 Search using an image
    • 3.6 Let the web vote
    • 3.7 Ask StackExchange
    • 3.8 Cast wide nets to locate an email address
  • 4. Web Tips and Tricks
    • 4.1 The internet never forgets
    • 4.2 Judge your online sources
    • 4.3 URLs are your friends
    • 4.4 Locate orphan pages through link queries
    • 4.5 Bookmark sparingly
    • 4.6 Make your bookmarks accessible
    • 4.7 Save web links with your other files
    • 4.8 Shorten your links
    • 4.9 Let your group vote
  • 5. Handling Email
    • 5.1 Read email once a day
    • 5.2 Turn-off email alerts
    • 5.3 File incoming email
    • 5.4 File incoming email as you read it
    • 5.5 Don’t file all incoming email
    • 5.6 Don’t file outgoing email
    • 5.7 Create subfolders
    • 5.8 Create shortcut-accessible folders
    • 5.9 File to multiple folders
    • 5.10 Link folders with placeholder messages
    • 5.11 Automate filing
    • 5.12 Don’t read spam
    • 5.13 Don’t fall for hoaxes
    • 5.14 Send reminders to yourself
    • 5.15 Reply to mail you sent
    • 5.16 Read the recipient lists
    • 5.17 Detach attachments
    • 5.18 Don’t email during holidays
    • 5.19 Use multiple mail search strategies
  • 6. Email Smarts and Etiquette
    • 6.1 Use meaningful Subject lines
    • 6.2 Don’t begin a new subject by replying to an old email
    • 6.3 Quote appropriately when replying
    • 6.4 Check your quoted text when adding recipients
    • 6.5 Don’t mix private and public distribution lists
    • 6.6 Don’t Bcc
    • 6.7 Arrange for replies to go where they should
    • 6.8 Don’t put in an email what you don’t want to see in public
    • 6.9 Flames belong to the cooler
    • 6.10 Sandwich critique within praise
    • 6.11 Reread before pressing send
    • 6.12 Write short messages as a Subject line
    • 6.13 Save time with VSRE
    • 6.14 Send mass email through a Bcc
    • 6.15 Retire people from a discussion with a Bcc
    • 6.16 Use read receipts with care
    • 6.17 Avoid attachments
    • 6.18 Share large files using cloud-based services
    • 6.19 Don’t plan meetings over email
    • 6.20 Don’t edit documents over email
    • 6.21 Introduce people
    • 6.22 DON’T YELL
  • 7. Working with Documents
    • 7.1 Bookmark with undo
    • 7.2 Outline
    • 7.3 Beware of the changes you track
    • 7.4 Don’t align with whitespace
    • 7.5 Paragraph breaks aren’t for vertical spacing
    • 7.6 Break pages declaratively
    • 7.7 Employ styles
    • 7.8 Utilize references
    • 7.9 Use the thesaurus
    • 7.10 Automate the table of contents generation
    • 7.11 Automatically convert between upper and lowercase
    • 7.12 Paste as unformatted text
    • 7.13 Search and replace formatting
    • 7.14 Search all word forms
    • 7.15 Search with wildcards
    • 7.16 Search for special elements
    • 7.17 Track changes
    • 7.18 Avoid embedded elements and links
    • 7.19 Useful shortcuts
  • 8. Working with Spreadsheets
    • 8.1 Replace your calculator with the spreadsheet
    • 8.2 Use multiple worksheets
    • 8.3 Structure your spreadsheet for calculations
    • 8.4 Name your data
    • 8.5 Keep an extra row
    • 8.6 Organize your data with Excel’s tables
    • 8.7 Vlookup isn’t rocket science
    • 8.8 Don’t show numbers with meaningless precision
    • 8.9 Apply formatting to whole rows and columns
    • 8.10 Auto-complete your labels
    • 8.11 Average by selecting
    • 8.12 Have others fill-in your spreadsheets
  • 9. Preparing and Delivering Presentations
    • 9.1 Plan two minutes per slide
    • 9.2 Skip slides when in a hurry
    • 9.3 Avoid running text
    • 9.4 Use charts
    • 9.5 Add graphics
    • 9.6 Use full-screen images
    • 9.7 Use appropriate fonts
    • 9.8 Avoid fancy layouts and effects
    • 9.9 Use a master style
    • 9.10 Don’t read your slides
    • 9.11 Use both screens
    • 9.12 No live demos
    • 9.13 Arrange for backup equipment
    • 9.14 Verify your setup
    • 9.15 Setup accessible backups
  • 10. Icing the Cake: Typography
    • 10.1 Use fonts wisely
    • 10.2 Avoid table rules
    • 10.3 Know your symbols
    • 10.4 Prefer charts over tables over text
    • 10.5 Prefer scalable formats
    • 10.6 Avoid underlined text
    • 10.7 Avoid uppercase sequences
    • 10.8 Don’t be too clever
    • 10.9 Use professional-designed styles
  • 11. Data Management
    • 11.1 Use meaningful file and folder names
    • 11.2 Organize your files
    • 11.3 Sort files by date
    • 11.4 Link files with shortcuts
  • 12. Security
    • 12.1 Beware of attachments
    • 12.2 Don’t reply to spam and malware senders
    • 12.3 Beware of phishers
    • 12.4 No one will give you millions by email
    • 12.5 Don’t click on all hyperlinks
    • 12.6 Select unguessable passwords
    • 12.7 Don’t reuse passwords
    • 12.8 Apply security fixes
  • 13. Privacy
    • 13.1 Get over it
    • 13.2 Think before you post
    • 13.3 Browse privately
    • 13.4 Encrypt sensitive data
    • 13.5 Use strong encryption
    • 13.6 Arrange for plausible deniability
    • 13.7 Don’t encrypt more than you need
    • 13.8 Consider your trails
    • 13.9 Don’t throw away your personal data
  • 14. Digital Preservation
    • 14.1 Backup your data
    • 14.2 Store backups off-site
    • 14.3 Keep multiple backup copies
    • 14.4 Backups are backups
    • 14.5 Online backups are also backups
    • 14.6 Backup your smart devices
    • 14.7 Keep your data together
    • 14.8 Test your backups
    • 14.9 Take care of those pictures
    • 14.10 Choose long-lasting file formats
    • 14.11 Test your data when changing equipment
    • 14.12 Separate personal from work data
    • 14.13 Consider the data of your reports
    • 14.14 Consider the data of your family
  • 15. Business Travel
    • 15.1 Packing list
    • 15.2 Carry a USB stick on you
    • 15.3 Backup before you travel
    • 15.4 Phone through Skype
    • 15.5 Don’t rely on network access
    • 15.6 Arrange for network access before you leave
    • 15.7 Ask your hotel for a power brick
  • 16. Dealing with IT Equipment
    • 16.1 Don’t buy more than you need
    • 16.2 Consider noise, space, and weight
    • 16.3 Make your phone a Wi-Fi hotspot
    • 16.4 First unplug the mains plug
    • 16.5 Don’t leave stuff around your laptop’s keyboard
    • 16.6 Desk phone on your right, coffee on your left
    • 16.7 Sleep, stand by, hibernate
    • 16.8 Don’t rely on obsolete equipment
    • 16.9 Use a second monitor
    • 16.10 Invest in a broadband connection
    • 16.11 Wire your house
    • 16.12 Reduce clutter through hubs
    • 16.13 Consider a printer’s cost per page
    • 16.14 Choose appropriate service and extended warranties
    • 16.15 Remove batteries after swimming
  • 17. System Administration
    • 17.1 Log your changes
    • 17.2 Keep these installation disks
    • 17.3 Upgrade before the EOL
    • 17.4 Save money and hassle with open source software
    • 17.5 Avoid installing and using software that comes bundled with hardware devices
  • 18. Ergonomics
    • 18.1 Beware of laptops
    • 18.2 Build a docking station
    • 18.3 Remove your chair’s handles
    • 18.4 Use keyboard shortcuts
    • 18.5 Create your own keyboard shortcuts
    • 18.6 Keyboard smarts
    • 18.7 Windows shortcuts
    • 18.8 Mac shortcuts
    • 18.9 Tile your windows
    • 18.10 Phone, email, chat
    • 18.11 Use a headset
  • 19. Computers in our Life
    • 19.1 Exercise
    • 19.2 Contribute to online communities
    • 19.3 Avoid addictive endeavors
    • 19.4 Rip your CDs
    • 19.5 Centralize your media content
    • 19.6 Digitize your kids’ art
  • Epilogue
  • Acknowledgements

Authors have earned$9,886,269writing, publishing and selling on Leanpub, earning 80% royalties while saving up to 25 million pounds of CO2 and up to 46,000 trees.

Learn more about writing on Leanpub

The Leanpub 45-day 100% Happiness Guarantee

Within 45 days of purchase you can get a 100% refund on any Leanpub purchase, in two clicks.

See full terms

Free Updates. DRM Free.

If you buy a Leanpub book, you get free updates for as long as the author updates the book! Many authors use Leanpub to publish their books in-progress, while they are writing them. All readers get free updates, regardless of when they bought the book or how much they paid (including free).

Most Leanpub books are available in PDF (for computers), EPUB (for phones and tablets) and MOBI (for Kindle). The formats that a book includes are shown at the top right corner of this page.

Finally, Leanpub books don't have any DRM copy-protection nonsense, so you can easily read them on any supported device.

Learn more about Leanpub's ebook formats and where to read them

Write and Publish on Leanpub

You can use Leanpub to easily write, publish and sell in-progress and completed ebooks and online courses! Leanpub is a powerful platform for serious authors, combining a simple, elegant writing and publishing workflow with a store focused on selling in-progress ebooks. Leanpub is a magical typewriter for authors: just write in plain text, and to publish your ebook, just click a button. It really is that easy.

Learn more about writing on Leanpub

Top Books

  1. #1

    C++ Best Practices

    Jason Turner

    Level up your C++, get the tools working for you, eliminate common problems, and move on to more exciting things!

  2. #2
  3. #3

    Functional Design and Architecture

    Alexander Granin

    Software Design in Functional Programming, Design Patterns and Practices, Methodologies and Application Architectures. How to build real software in Haskell with less efforts and low risks. The first complete source of knowledge.

  4. #4
  5. #5

    C++20

    Rainer Grimm

    C++20 is the next big C++ standard after C++11. As C++11 did it, C++20 changes the way we program modern C++. This change is, in particular, due to the big four of C++20: ranges, coroutines, concepts, and modules.

  6. #6

    I am a Software Engineer and I am in Charge

    Alexis Monville and Michael Doyle

    I am a Software Engineer and I am in Charge is a real-world, practical book that helps you increase your impact and satisfaction at work no matter who you work with.

    In the book, we will follow Sandrine, a fictional character who learns to think in a new way enabling her to take a different course of action.

  7. #7

    Atomic Kotlin

    Bruce Eckel and Svetlana Isakova

    For both beginning and experienced programmers! From the author of the multi-award-winning Thinking in C++ and Thinking in Java together with a member of the Kotlin language team comes a book that breaks the concepts into small, easy-to-digest "atoms," along with exercises supported by hints and solutions directly inside IntelliJ IDEA!

  8. #8

    Invest In Digital Health - The Medical Futurist's Guide

    Dr. Bertalan Mesko

    Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health are booming. In this book, we explain why now it's a good time to invest in Digital Health and give recommendations on where to invest by looking at the top 24 technological trends we find the most promising.

  9. #9

    The Hundred-Page Machine Learning Book

    Andriy Burkov

    Everything you really need to know in Machine Learning in a hundred pages.

  10. #10

    Mastering STM32

    Carmine Noviello

    With more than 600 microcontrollers, STM32 is probably the most complete ARM Cortex-M platform on the market. This book aims to be the first guide around that introduces the reader to this exciting MCU portfolio from ST Microelectronics and its official CubeHAL.

Top Bundles

  1. #1

    Software Architecture for Developers: Volumes 1 & 2 - Technical leadership and communication

    2 Books

    "Software Architecture for Developers" is a practical and pragmatic guide to modern, lightweight software architecture, specifically aimed at developers. You'll learn:The essence of software architecture.Why the software architecture role should include coding, coaching and collaboration.The things that you really need to think about before...
  2. #2

    CCIE Service Provider Ultimate Study Bundle

    2 Books

    Piotr Jablonski, Lukasz Bromirski, and Nick Russo have joined forces to deliver the only CCIE Service Provider training resource you'll ever need. This bundle contains a detailed and challenging collection of workbook labs, plus an extensively detailed technical reference guide. All of us have earned the CCIE Service Provider certification...
  3. #3

    The Future of Digital Health

    6 Books

    We put together the most popular books from The Medical Futurist to provide a clear picture about the major trends shaping the future of medicine and healthcare. Digital health technologies, artificial intelligence, the future of 20 medical specialties, big pharma, data privacy and how technology giants such as Amazon or Google want to conquer...
  4. #4

    Cisco CCNA 200-301 Complet

    4 Books

    Ce lot comprend les quatre volumes du guide préparation à l'examen de certification Cisco CCNA 200-301.
  5. #5

    CCDE Practical Studies (All labs)

    3 Books

    CCDE lab
  6. #6

    "The C++ Standard Library" and "Concurrency with Modern C++"

    2 Books

    Get my books "The C++ Standard Library" and "Concurrency with Modern C++" in a bundle. The first book gives you the details you should know about the C++ standard library; the second one dives deeper into concurrency with modern C++. In sum, you get more than 600 pages full of modern C++ and about 250 source files presenting the standard library...
  7. #7

    Modern Management Made Easy

    3 Books

    Read all three Modern Management Made Easy books. Learn to manage yourself, lead and serve others, and lead the organization.
  8. #8

    Linux Administration Complet

    4 Books

    Ce lot comprend les quatre volumes du Guide Linux Administration :Linux Administration, Volume 1, Administration fondamentale : Guide pratique de préparation aux examens de certification LPIC 1, Linux Essentials, RHCSA et LFCS. Administration fondamentale. Introduction à Linux. Le Shell. Traitement du texte. Arborescence de fichiers. Sécurité...
  9. #9

    Programming with Ease

    3 Books

    Alle drei Bände der Serie Programming with Ease in einem Paket. Darin findest du alles, was ich dir zu den wichtigsten Phasen der Softwareentwicklung im Hinblick auf Clean Code Development für langfristig hohe Produktivität sagen kann.Im Band Slicing findest du die Anforderungsanalyse im Rahmen eines iterativ-inkrementellen Vorgehensmodells aus...
  10. #10

    Vagrant Ansible

    2 Books

    Unveil the power of Ansible and Vagrant with this bundle at a special price. You'll have everything you need to get started with Vagrant - learn the basics and how to create your virtual development environments, using Ansible as provisioner! About Vagrant Cookbook Vagrant Cookbook is a complete guide to get started with Vagrant and create your...

Publish Early, Publish Often

  • Path
  • There are many paths, but the one you're on right now on Leanpub is:
  • › Computingstyle

Leanpub is copyright © 2010-2021 Ruboss Technology Corp. All rights reserved.