Ralph Johnson, University of Illinois; Coauthor, Design Patterns, "The first edition of Code Complete is on my list of software engineering classics; the second edition is even better."

Larry O'Brien, Knowing .NET, "For 10 years, Code Complete has been a must-buy not for lack of would-be competitors but that McConnell set a standard that no one else has come close to matching. Code Complete, Second Edition will finally displace Code Complete from the shelves and will become a standard until, I suspect, McConnell writes a third edition sometime in the next decade.... Code Complete, Second Edition deserves to be the most read software development book of the year, a distinction which it almost undoubtedly will achieve."

Ed Schaefer, Unix Review, "Code Complete has affected the way I think about developing software like no other book has. I know it's trite, but if ever a technical book deserved to be an 'instant classic', this is it. I applaud McConnell not only for codifying the knowledge--writing it down--but for including key points and check lists. "

Mike Riley, asp.netPRO, "Every page offers pragmatic insight gained through years of effective coding experience and continues to be the principal handbook of software construction success for its practitioners. Project leaders should read this book cover to cover, and then purchase a copy for each of their direct reports. "

Pan Pantziarka, Tech Book Report, "Steve McConnell's 'Code Complete' is fairly unique, and the first edition was justly acclaimed as a classic. Now with a new--expanded and extensively rewritten--second edition that classic status is confirmed.... There is so much more good solid material in the book that it's difficult to do justice to it in a single review. This is a book that anyone who wants to improve as a developer should read. We can't recommend it enough."

Mike Gunderloy, MCP Magazine, "I still recommend this book to every developer. It's just that now I'm recommending the new edition and guarding my final copy of the first edition more carefully than ever. "

Sam Gentile, Blog, "I dare say it's even better than the first. Updated to use 'modern languages' like C++ and Java, it's absolutely the definitive book on software construction.... There are still things for me to learn reading this. Highest recommendation!"

John Vlissides, IBM Research; Coauthor, Design Patterns, "Steve McConnell is one of those rare souls who practice the state of the art and demystify it, too."

Alan Cooper, Father of Visual Basic; Author, About Face, "Steve McConnell knows more about building software than anyone else; we’re lucky he has packed all his insight and practical experience into this important and original book."

Diomidis Spinellis, Author, Code Reading: The Open Source Perspective, "The definitive guide to software construction; the one book a programmer packing for a desert island should take."

Jeffrey Richter, Author, Applied Microsoft .NET Framework Programming, "Whether you are a new or experienced developer, CODE COMPLETE, Second Edition, teaches you the best ways to think about programming."

Comments about the first edition ...

Martin Fowler, Refactoring, "An excellent guide to programming style and software construction."

Warren Keuffel, Software Development Magazine, "Microsoft Press has published what I consider to be the definitive book on software construction. This is a book that belongs on every software developer's bookshelf. Code Complete comprises 95% of the accumulated wisdom of software construction-written from the practicing programmer's point of view. Imagine reading some 300-odd papers and books on software construction-from requirements analysis to system integration-then synthesizing them into an 850-page reference covering all phases of the software development life cycle. McConnell has made a tremendous contribution to software development literature."

Peter Wright, Program Now, "The range of topics is phenomenal, including specification, design, writing modular code, variable naming, the psychology of the programmer, and how to manage your manager. It includes numerous references and a plethora of statistics, some of which are real eye openers. If you think you are the best, this is the book to teach you some humility. If you are more modest then Code Complete is an excellent way to improve not only your technical abilities, but also your entire way of thinking. This book deserves to become a classic, and should be compulsory reading for all developers, and those responsible for managing them."

Chris Robbins, The Profession, "Over one and a half inches thick, weighing three and a quarter pounds, containing over 800 pages of recycled paper, and costing just under £30--however you choose to measure it, this book gives exceptional value for money."

Jeff Duntemann, PC Techniques, "Every half an age or so, you come across a book that short-circuits the school of experience and saves you years of purgatory. ... Steve McConnell has given us 860 pages that span the universe of code creation in the generic; that is, the principles that govern all programming in any traditional structured language like C, Pascal, Basic, or Ada. ... This is the polar opposite of those boring high-level books on methodologies. ... The book makes the best use of 'marginal information' ... I've ever seen. My favorite element is the 'coding horror' icon that shows a programming screaming with the hair standing straight out from his head. ... I cannot adequately express how good this book really is. Code Complete is a pretty lame title for a work of brilliance."

Michael Howard, Writing Secure Code, "Today's software must be robust and resilient--and secure code starts with disciplined software construction. After ten years, there is still no better authority than Code Complete."

Grady Booch, Object Solutions, "A comprehensive examination of the tactical issues that go into crafting a well-engineered program. McConnell's work covers such diverse topics as architecture, coding standards, testing, integration, and the nature of software craftsmanship."

Jon Bentley, Programming Pearls, 2d ed, "Steve McConnell's Code Complete ... provides a fast track to wisdom for programmers. ... His books are fun to read, and you never forget that he is speaking from hard-won personal experience."

Richard Mateosian, IEEE Micro, "If you are or aspire to be a professional programmer, this may be the wisest $35 investment you'll ever make. McConnell's stated purpose is to narrow the gap between the knowledge of industry gurus and common commercial practice. To do this he sets out to explain everything important that those gurus know about programming. The amazing thing is that he succeeds."

Tommy Usher, C User's Journal, "Whatever your background, Code Complete has something to offer you. Even the most experienced C programming will find ideas for improvement. The author writes in an entertaining style and makes good use of code segments to illustrate his points. ... This book will benefit any programmer who approaches it with an open mind. Even when I disagreed with the author's approach, I could see his point. I was pleasantly surprised by his willingness to challenge conventional wisdom. ... Code Complete should be required reading for anyone who plans to begin or continue a career in software development."

T.L. (Frank) Pappas, Computer, "Every programmer should read this outstanding book."

John Robbins, Debugging Applictions for Microsoft .NET and Microsoft Windows, "This is simply the best book on software construction that I've ever read. Every developer should own a copy and read it cover to cover every year. After reading it annually for nine years, I'm still learning things from this book!"

Chris Loosley, High-Performance Client/Server, "The ultimate encyclopedia for the software developer is Code Complete by Steve McConnell. Subtitled a Practical Handbook of Software Construction, this 850-page book is exactly that. Its stated goal is to narrow the gap between the knowledge of 'industry gurus and professors' (Yourdon and Pressman, for example) and common comercial practice, and 'to help you write better programs in less time with fewer headaches.' ... Every developer should own a copy of McConnell's book. Its style and content are thoroughly practical."

Erik Bethke, Game Development and Production, "Steve McConnell's seminal book Code Complete is one of the most accessible works discussing in detail software development methods..."

John Dempster, The Laboratory Computer: A Practical Guide for Physiologists and Neuroscientists, "A mine of useful information and advice on the broader issues in designing and producing good software."

Jean J. Labrosse, Embedded Systems Building Blocks: Complete and Ready-To-Use Modules in C, "If you are serious about improving your programming skills you should get Code Complete by Steve McConnell."

Kenneth Rosen, Unix: The Complete Reference, "Steve McConnell has written one of the best books on software development independent of computer environment."

Peter Coffee, PC Week, "We were quite impressed by "Code Complete." ... [it] is a pleasure to read, either straight through or as a reference. Its margins are marked with distinctive icons for Hard Data, Key Point, Coding Horror and Further Reading, as well as frequent cross-references to related items in the book. The margins are also highlighted by quotations (both serious and whimsical) from writers as diverse as Albert Einstein and Douglas Adams. Written not for end users but for those who develop software and those who manage developers, Code Complete is especially worth the time of these power users and their managers."

Tyler Sperry, Embedded Systems Programming, "This well-written but massive tome is arguably the best single volume ever written on the practical aspects of software implementation."

Jim Kyle, Windows Tech Journal, "Steve McConnell's remarkable Code Complete [pub info] covers most aspects of software construction. Although the book is subtitled A Practical Handbook of Software Construction, the breadth of topics addressed and their exhaustive treatment make the book a modern encyclopedia of programming. Building assertions into programs is just one way to help improve quality; McConnell's book explains all the techniques and provides references to relevant material."

Edward Kenworth, .Exe Magazine, "This is the best book on software engineering that I have yet read. It is readable, well thought out and deserves a place on any developer's bookshelf."