How to become a efficient programmer?

I would probably write a whole book, but… would it help someone?

I would add only one advice: avoid the most common mistake: getting some working result by all means. Maybe this is the most important goal for your company (and even here I would not completely agree), but for you main goal should be deep understanding. The results will come if you work for yourself first.

(A bit unusual advice derived from the my main one: be afraid of anything "cool". Don't try to create "cool stuff"; you may more or less easily impress the weak-minded, but is that really important for you?)

—SA

Try reading:
1. Compiler design in C[^]
2. The Dragon Book[^]
as this will help you understand programming languages in general.
Read through The Art of Computer Programming[^] - it usually takes 4 to 5 readings.

Use the aquired knowledge to build an assembler.

This will give you a thorough understanding about what's going on behind the scenes, and you will cetainly gain a lot of practice :)

It usually takes about 10 years to become an expert: Teach Yourself Programming in Ten Years[^]

Good luck :)

Best regards
Espen Harlinn

Practice.

Pure and simple, there is no substitute for practice.

There are things you have to learn, languages, data structures, the mechanics of computers and software sytems such as databases, OS's, frameworks and so forth. But the biggest, most critical element of "becoming a efficient programmer" is practice, and the experience it gives.

It is just like any other skill: practice, practice, practice! When you first try to drive a car, it's is complex. After a few lessons, it is simpler, but there is a lot going on. After a few years, you can jump into a strange car, and drive off without noticing!

Definitely not by asking as many meaninless questions as possible and showing impatience. Seriously, by coming back every four or five minutes to this thread and post a comment like "any one thre" -(edit: which you deleted in the meantime)- isn't going to help you at all.

Now log off, buy some books and work through them. If you have a real programming problem, come back and ask a specific question and you probably will get help.