Table of Contents
In today’s post, you’ll discover the best domain-driven design books for this year.
Want to learn the inner workings of DDD?
Or do you just need something quick and simple?
Wherever you are on your design journey, our list of best domain-driven design books has covered.
You’ll explore their:
- features
- layout
- content
- ideal reader
And much more.
What is domain-driven design?
Domain-driven design (DDD) is a conceptual software development approach where the business domain is the focus of development.
The domain helps decide what terminology to use when defining classes, data models and interfaces.
Domain-driven design:
- places a project’s focus on domain logic
- bases complex designs on the domain model
- encourages collaboration between developers and domain experts to address domain problems and create high-quality software
So by using these principles and patterns, you can create sensible object systems.
In addition, you can close the gap between code and business.
Sound like a lot of mumbo jumbo?
Well, we’re not gonna lie: domain-driven design isn’t the easiest concept to grasp.
Heck, even Eric Evans (who coined the phrase “domain-driven design”) needs some time explaining DDD:
This post contains affiliate links. I may receive compensation if you buy something. Read my disclosure for more details.
TLDR: Best Domain-Driven Design Books
🔥 Best Overall 🔥
Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software by Eric Evans
💥 Best for Newbies 💥
Implementing Domain-Driven Design by Vaughn Vernon
Best Domain-Driven Design Books
To help you on your DDD education journey, we’ve poured over dozens of publications to bring you the best domain-driven design books out there.
Let’s get into it!
1. Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software
↘️ Ideal for: object-oriented developers, system analysts, and designers
↘️ Topics covered: domain model, domain code, lifecycle
Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software was written by Eric Evans.
Like I mentioned earlier, Evans is credited with coining the term domain-driven design.
If you want to read about DDD straight from the source, get this book.
With a foreword by Martin Fowler, this is the first book ever written about domain-driven design.
It’s also the most comprehensive and is still relevant today.
Rather than focus on specific technologies, you’ll find a systematic approach to domain-driven design.
This includes best practices, experience-based techniques and fundamental principles.
These will enable the development of software projects with complex domains.
In addition to learning how to use a domain model for focused and dynamic development, you’ll:
- get team members on the same page
- manage the lifecycle of a domain object
- write domain code that is safe to combine
- make complex code obvious and predictable
- apply analysis patterns
And much, MUCH more.
➡️ Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software uses real-world examples to demonstrate the application of domain-driven design in software development.
What developers are saying about Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software:
A must read for software developers and architects, regardless of domain or discipline. I use the concepts inside this book every day.
– Ed M.
📌 How I really feel about this book:
If you want to learn domain-driven design, Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software is the place to do it.
Yes it’s an older book, but the majority of information is still relevant. And you’ll get the fundamentals of DDD down better than you would anywhere else.
For the best DDD results, pick up this book alongside a recent domain-driven design release.
2. Implementing Domain-Driven Design
↘️ Ideal for: software developers of all levels
↘️ Topics covered: DDD architectures, domain events, designing repositories
Next on our list of best domain-driven design books is Implementing Domain-Driven Design.
This book explains DDD from the top on down to software developers of all experience levels.
You’ll find that author Vaughn Vernon takes tactical programming tools and connects them to strategic design patterns.
With a guided approach, you’ll discover DDD examples which are illustrated with Java code. You’ll also explore:
- mastering domain events
- designing and applying entities
- designing repositories
And more.
By the end of Implementing Domain-Driven Design, you should be able to build software that is flexible, scalable and aligned to business goals.
➡️ Implementing Domain-Driven Design’s foreword is by Eric Evans, the genius behind domain-driven design (and the author of the first book on this list).
3. Domain Modeling Made Functional: Tackle Software Complexity with Domain-Driven Design and F#
↘️ Ideal for: newcomers to DDD or functional programming
↘️ Topics covered: domain-driven design, F#
This is one of the best domain-driven design books that implements F# (if not the only one.)
Domain Modeling Made Functional combines domain-driven design with statically typed functional programming.
Using succinct real-world examples, you’ll learn techniques to build flexible, business-focused software.
Some of what you’ll work on includes:
- modeling a complex domain using F#
- creating compilable code
- encoding business rules in the design
- eliminating potential bugs
You’ll also assemble testable functions into a complete use state. Finally, you’ll create a fully functional domain model.
➡️ Domain Modeling Made Functional is for newcomers to DDD and functional programming.
Here’s what developers are saying about Domain Modeling Made Functional:
Simply must read for everyone interested in Functional DDD and F#.
– sgnsajgon
4. Learning Domain-Driven Design: Aligning Software Architecture and Business Strategy
↘️ Ideal for: experienced software developers
↘️ Topics covered: strategic patterns and practices
Learning Domain-Driven Design was published by O’Reilly. It contains a set of patterns, principles and practices for:
- analyzing business domains
- understanding business strategy
- aligning software design with business needs
In addition to future-proofing software design and architecture, you’ll explore DDD’s compatibility with other methodologies.
➡️ With Learning Domain-Driven Design, you’ll learn how to use DDD’s strategic patterns and practices.
5. Domain-Driven Design in PHP
↘️ Ideal for: PHP developers
↘️ Topics covered: hexagonal architecture, bounded contexts, REST
Sliding in at number 5 on our list of best domain-driven design books is Domain-Driven Design in PHP.
Because of its focus on PHP, this book is much different than any other book on our list of domain-driven development books.
It takes an example-rich approach to DDD concepts such as bounded context with REST and hexagonal architectures. In addition, you’ll explore messaging strategies and application services with PHP.
Then you’ll tackle concepts such as:
- entities
- value objects
- services
- domain events
- aggregates
And beyond.
➡️ Domain-Driven Design in PHP exposes how to implement tactical DDD patterns in PHP.
6. Patterns, Principles, and Practices of Domain-Driven Design
↘️ Ideal for: C# programmers
↘️ Topics covered: DDD philosophy, patterns
Like Domain-Driven Design in PHP, Patterns, Principles and Practices of Domain-Driven Design takes a deep dive into DDD patterns… But in C#.
You’ll find a strong focus on principles and practices of complex problem spaces. You’ll also explore best practices and implementation patterns for solution spaces.
🧑🎓 Want some DDD video action? Learn the basics with the course Domain-Driven Design Fundamentals on Pluralsight.
With full end-to-end coding examples, you’ll learn how to build domain models using tactical and strategic DDD patterns such as:
- CQRS
- messaging
- REST
- event sourcing
- event-driven architectures
And more.
➡️ With a strong focus on DDD philosophy, Patterns, Principles and Practices of Domain-Driven Design teaches experienced developers how to build applications for complex domains.
7. Hands-On Domain-Driven Design with .NET Core
↘️ Ideal for: intermediate C# developers
↘️ Topics covered: DDD principles and architectural styles
Coming in at number 7 on our list of best domain-driven design books is Hands-On Domain-Driven Design with .NET Core.
Published by Packt, this book explores practical topics like:
- better understanding users
- solving problems
- giving customers what they want
You’ll learn how to apply DDD principles using tools such as EventStorming and CQRS. Then you’ll learn how DDD applies to architectural styles such as REST and microservices.
You’ll also discover how to:
- resolve domain complexity
- avoid pitfalls when creating the domain model
- design and build temporal models
And more.
➡️ Hands-On Domain-Driven Design with .NET Core is for intermediate C# developers.
See what developers are saying about Hands-On Domain-Driven Design with .NET Core:
Easy to follow. Thought provoking. Had more than a couple of “Aha!” moments.
– W. York
8. Domain-Driven Design Distilled
↘️ Ideal for: developers, architects, analysts, consultants
↘️ Topics covered: benefits of DDD
Next on our list of best design-driven domain books is Domain-Driven Design Distilled.
This book was written by Vaughn Vernon, who’s also the author of Implementing Domain-Driven Design (#2 on our list!).
This concise, actionable book shows results-driven, real-world applications of DDD. You’ll discover:
- strategic design with DDD
- strategically integrating software with context mapping
- tactical design with aggregates and domain events
And much, much more.
➡️ Domain-Driven Design Distilled explores what DDD is, how it works and what problems it solves.
9. Applying Domain-Driven Design And Patterns: With Examples in C# and .NET
↘️ Ideal for: C# developers, .NET developers
↘️ Topics covered: Patterns, DDD, test-driven development
Coming in at number 9 in our list of best domain-driven design books is Applying Domain-Driven Design and Patterns.
In this book, you’ll explore 3 ways architects and developers can create robust and maintainable systems:
- patterns
- domain-driven design
- test-driven development (TDD)
With examples in C# and .NET, you’ll explore DDD’s background. Then you’ll learn how to apply DDD.
Finally, you’ll discover how to apply patterns of enterprise application architecture (PoEAA).
➡️ Applying Domain-Driven Design and Patterns has a bangin’ one-two punch with forewords by both Martin Fowler and Eric Evans.
10. Practical Domain-Driven Design in Enterprise Java
↘️ Ideal for: Java programmers
↘️ Topics covered: architectural principles, frameworks, design patterns
In my opinion, this is one of the best domain-driven design books that implements Java.
With Practical Domain-Driven Design in Enterprise Java, you’ll immediately start working on a project. First you’ll build a cargo tracking reference application using the Jakarta EE platform.
After completing the monolith application, you’ll convert it to a microservices-based architecture using DDD.
Finally, you’ll use CQRS and event sourcing patterns to see other ways your application could turn out.
➡️ Practical Domain-Driven Design in Enterprise Java is a hands-on book where you’ll use DDD to develop complex software.
11. JavaScript Domain-Driven Design
↘️ Ideal for: experienced JavaScript developers
↘️ Topics covered: modern and traditional development techniques, practical skills
Finally on our list of best domain-driven design books: JavaScript Domain-Driven Design. The book starts you off by teaching domain-driven concepts in JavaScript alongside working with UML diagrams.
Then you’ll learn how to use various test-driven development tools.
You’ll also learn how to use other design patterns to extend DDD.
Finally, you’ll gain insight on how to navigate the best scenarios to implement DDD.
➡️ JavaScript Domain-Driven Design combines your JavaScript skills with DDD to create advanced applications.
Best Domain-Driven Design Books: Conclusion
Today we looked at the best domain-driven design books including:
🔥 Best Overall 🔥
Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software by Eric Evans
💥 Best for Newbies 💥
Implementing Domain-Driven Design by Vaughn Vernon
So whether you want to tap into the old-school with Eric Evans or find some of the most recent DDD references, we think these are the best domain-driven design books out there.
Readers of the Best Domain-Driven Design Books are also reading:
- 9 Best Test Driven Development Books
- 11 Best Software Testing Books
- 6 Best ASP.NET Books
- Clean Code review: A Handbook of Agile Software Craftsmanship by Robert C. Martin
What is domain-driven design?
Domain-driven design (DDD) is a conceptual software development approach where the business domain is the focus of development. The domain helps decide what terminology to use when defining classes, data models and interfaces. Domain-driven design places a project’s focus on domain logic, bases complex designs on the domain model, encourages collaboration between developers and domain experts to address domain problems and create high-quality software. So by using these principles and patterns, you can create sensible object systems. In addition, you can close the gap between code and business.
What are the best domain-driven design books?
Overall we think one of the best domain-driven design books is Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software by Eric Evans. For newbies, we liked Implementing Domain-Driven Design by Vaughn Vernon. You can find these domain-driven design books and more in today’s post.
Who is Eric Evans?
Eric Evans coined the term “domain-driven design.” He also wrote the first book on the subject called Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software. Evans is also a software design consultant and founded a domain modeling company. You can learn more about Eric Evans’ book in today’s article.
Who coined the phrase domain-driven design?
Eric Evans coined the phrase “domain-driven design.” He has also written the first book on DDD called Domain-Driven Design: Tackling Complexity in the Heart of Software. You can learn more about this and other domain-driven design books in our post.
Is the book Domain-Driven Design Distilled worth it?
Yes, we think Domain-Driven Design Distilled is worth it. Domain-Driven Design Distilled was written by Vaughn Vernon, author of Implementing Domain-Driven Design. This concise, actionable book shows results-driven, real-world applications of DDD. You’ll discover strategic design with DDD, integrating software with context mapping, tactical design with aggregates and domain events, and much more.