While some learning content covers topics on only an introductory level, some books and technical documentation can help you build much deeper knowledge.
Read the official documentation and specifications (aka RTFM) for the languages, frameworks, libraries, protocols, and tools that you use regularly. Read in depth articles and books about a variety of technical and non technical topics. These help you to deepen your knowledge.
For example, following some tutorials on full stack web development will give you introductory knowledge on several topics. Reading specifications of HTTP, HTML, ECMAScript and JS, ANSI SQL, C, Rust, etc will deepen your knowledge in one way. Reading books about software architecture, software patterns, and best practices will deepen your knowledge in other ways. Reading documentation for specific libraries and frameworks, like React, .Net, or Ruby on Rails, will build yet another kind of deep knowledge.
This type of deep reading should feel more challenging than consuming introductory content. It should stretch and challenge your understanding of how things work, and of what’s possible. It may require several rounds of re-reading, or reading other supporting materials. It’s often worth revisiting after some time as well.
The knowledge you build from deep reading will supplement the knowledge built from introductory materials, in a variety of ways. Then, you can supplement your knowledge further by reading code, and finally build your skill by writing code.
Read more about the other modes of learning for software engineers:
- [[Four modes of learning in software engineering]]
- [[Mode 1 - Broaden Your Knowledge with Introductory Content]]
- [[Mode 3 - Deepen Your Knowledge By Reading Code]]
- [[Mode 4 - Build Your Skill by Writing Code]]
- [[6 Break Out of Tutorial Hell and Overcome Impostor Syndrome]]