Pragmatic Engineer is a blog authored by Gergely Orosz, covering topics related to software engineering, career growth, and technology leadership. With a focus on practical advice and real-world experiences, Pragmatic Engineer offers  insights for developers and tech professionals. Developers can learn about software design principles, career advancement strategies, and industry trends through Pragmatic Engineer's articles and essays.

The Pragmatic Engineer

Gergely Orosz shares his four-year journey writing The Software Engineer's Guidebook, from pitching to major tech publishers to ultimately self-publishing. He details the tech book publishing landscape, financial models (advances of $2,000-$5,000, royalties of 7-25%), and the roles publishers play. After securing a contract with a major publisher, he terminated the agreement due to creative differences over editorial direction and style mandates. The decision to self-publish delayed the book by two years but gave him full creative control. The book became a bestseller, selling 40,000 copies in 24 months and being translated into multiple languages.

Four years on writing a tech book: pitching to a publisher

3. The publishing process, and publisher roles