Write Portable Code (No Starch) -- This handy book contains the lessons, patterns, and knowledge for developing cross-platform software that programmers usually must acquire through sheer trial and error. Targeted at intermediate-to-advanced programmers, it is a valuable resource for designers of cross-platform software, programmers looking to extend their skills to additional platforms, and programmers faced with the tricky task of moving code from one platform to another.

Scott Berkun on Dr. Dobb's Great Writers NetSeminar Series -- Scott Berkun, author of the newly released The Art of Project Management is the first presenter in the new Great Writers NetSeminar Series sponsored by Dr. Dobb's Journal and C/C++ User's Journal. Scott, a long-time veteran, will offer invaluable perspectives and techniques for project management on August 31 at 11:00 a.m. PT. Register today (free) to reserve your place.

Form Your Own Design Pattern Study Group -- Like most complex subjects, design patterns are best learned over a period of time, not in a few sittings. Eric Freeman and Elisabeth Freeman, coauthors of Head First Design Patterns, suggest one way to ease the learning curve (and have some fun along the way): form a study group, using their book. If you're ready to get your engineering team together, the Freemans get you started in this article with a plan to follow and chapter-by-chapter questions to help generate discussion.

History of Programming Languages -- For 50 years, computer programmers have been writing code, and now, there are more than 2,500 documented programming languages. O'Reilly has produced a poster called History of Programming Languages, which plots over 50 programming languages on a multi-layered, color-coded timeline. The poster is available online in PDF format, but while supplies last, U.S. residents can also get a hard copy of the poster free when purchasing two books through oreilly.com.