An accessible yet rigorous crash course on recursive programming using Python and JavaScript
examples. Recursion has an intimidating reputation: it’s considered to be an advanced
computer science topic frequently brought up in coding interviews. But there’s nothing magical
about recursion. The Recursive Book of Recursion uses Python and JavaScript examples to
teach the basics of recursion exposing the ways that it’s often poorly taught and clarifying
the fundamental principles of all recursive algorithms. You’ll learn when to use recursive
functions (and most importantly when not to use them) how to implement the classic recursive
algorithms often brought up in job interviews and how recursive techniques can help solve
countless problems involving tree traversal combinatorics and other tricky topics. This
project-based guide contains complete runnable programs to help you learn: How recursive
functions make use of the call stack a critical data structure almost never discussed in
lessons on recursion How the head-tail and “leap of faith” techniques can simplify writing
recursive functions How to use recursion to write custom search scripts for your filesystem
draw fractal art create mazes and more How optimization and memoization make recursive
algorithms more efficient Al Sweigart has built a career explaining programming concepts in a
fun approachable manner. If you’ve shied away from learning recursion but want to add this
technique to your programming toolkit or if you’re racing to prepare for your next job
interview this book is for you.
