What's better than a free book? Nine free books!

Calling all programmers, whether new, old, or aspiring: we've found a great selection of free (as in beer) books to boost your coding skills to the next level. There's a little bit of everything for everybody, so hop in and enjoy.

97 Things Every Programmer Should Know

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Seriously, every programmer should know these things.

Based on an online collection of essays all about proper programming practices, this book is a must-read for any and all coders ranging from aspiring to newbie to master. In fact, the wisdom therein is so useful that this book is worth an annual re-read.

The original essay collection contained 97 articles but this book is actually the extended version with 68 additional essays, bringing it up to a total of 165. Why aren't you reading it yet?

Available in PDF, EPUB, and MOBI for free.

Apprenticeship Patterns

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The proper mindset of a programmer from apprentice to master.

This is one of the best books on programming I've ever read and it doesn't contain a single line of code. It's a book about mindset, attitude, and the journey that lies ahead of every programmer. Not only does it cover many of the struggles and problems that coders face, but it also provides solutions to those struggles and problems.

How do you approach the craft of coding? To really succeed, you have to approach it in the right way. This book shows you that right way.

Available in Online HTML for free. EPUB, PDF, and MOBI available for $24 USD.

Learning JavaScript Design Patterns

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JavaScript can be a pain to understand, but this book makes it easy.

For a long time, JavaScript was often criticized for its propensity to produce messy code, but recent years have shown a massive explosion in its popularity. JavaScript is now an integral component of nearly every modern website and has quickly become one of the best languages to learn if you want a job in web-related development.

Unfortunately, it isn't so easy for JavaScript to escape its history. The language can be a bit of a pain for newbies to grasp, but this book takes you through all of the different "patterns" that frequently occur when programming with JavaScript. Are you ready to finally understand JavaScript?

Available in Online HTML for free. EPUB, PDF, and MOBI available for $34 USD.

Learn Python The Hard Way

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Fortunately, the hard way is actually the easy way.

If you ask me, Python is one of the most elegant languages in the world. There's beauty in its simplicity and Python's approach to programming is both unique and practical. Once you get the hang of it, you'll have an entirely new outlook on programming as a whole.

As James pointed out, Python is often described as "fun", "easy to use", and "a good learning tool", making it a good choice for first-time programmers. As far as real-world use is concerned, Python has recently shot up in popularity for web development thanks to development of the Django framework.

Should you learn Python? I think so. This book will get you started on the right foot. Afterwards, you can continue your education with these websites for learning Python.

Available in Online HTML for free. EPUB and PDF available for $30 USD.

Thinking In Java

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Need to wrap your head around Java and OOP? This is how you do it.

In its early versions, Java sat at the butt end of much criticism that poked at various aspects of the language's implementation and horrible performance. Since then, Java has matured into the 2nd most popular language in the world according to CodeEval.

Perhaps the most appealing aspect of Java is its adherence to the object-oriented philosophy. It's not the easiest language to learn but it can be intensely practical, especially due to its inherent cross-platform portability thanks to the Java virtual machine.

It's one thing to use Java; it's another to think in Java. This book is perfect for that.

Available in HTML only.

An Introduction to Programming In Go

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For those who want to catch up on Google's very own programming language.

Go, also known as golang, is one of the more recent programming languages to hit the scene. Initially developed by Google, it has taken on a life of its own and continues to evolve even to this day.

The language is loosely influenced by C, Python, and a few other languages, resulting in a language that feels familiar to veteran programmers but is simple enough for newbies to pick up and understand. This book is a great way to learn the most important bits of the language.

Available in PDF [No longer available] and Online HTML formats. Kindle edition available for $3 USD.

Game Programming Patterns

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A must-read for all game programmers of all genres.

If you've never made a game before and thought this book would be your holy grail: I'm sorry. It's not. Rather, brand newbies should check out these game development websites for learning the basics. Afterwards, you can try these game development tools.

For those who have created games before, you know that games are complex. Structuring your code in a neat way is one of the toughest parts about game development. Fortunately, this book breaks down various structural patterns that you can rely on to make the whole process that much easier.

Available in Online HTML only.

Producing Open Source Software

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So you want to join the open source movement but you don't know how?

The world is starting to accept open source software as a legitimate alternative to proprietary programs. Not that it was ever illegitimate, but many of the myths surrounding open source programming are losing their footing and the whole philosophy of open source has gained a lot of respect in recent years.

Thinking of joining the movement? This book covers everything you need to know, including choosing an open source license, organizing an open source team, and making money with open source projects. Honestly, it covers everything you need to know.

Available in Online HTML only.

How To Do What You Love & Earn What You're Worth As A Programmer

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Or, how to get rich not-so-quickly as a programmer.

This short book is a collection of essays on the subject of success and money in the programming field. It is split into two halves: the first half tackles the big decisions when choosing a coding career, the second half involves the process of finding and securing a job.

It's a quick read, relatively speaking, but it's densely packed with advice and wisdom that may just change your life -- or at the very least, the path of your career. A definite must-read if you intend to seek a programming job (as opposed to being a hobby developer).

Available in Online HTML for free. EPUB, PDF, and MOBI available for $5 USD.

Do you know of any other high-quality programming books that are available for free? Let us know in the comments!

Image Credit: Open Source Code Via Shutterstock, Programmer On Laptop Via Shutterstock