A Large Collection of Free Programming Books in Spanish

Recently I caught myself thinking that learning a foreign language from grammar textbooks is incredibly boring. It's much easier to combine the pleasant with the useful: you pick a topic you're already familiar with and read about it in the language you're learning. The context is clear from the start, so your brain latches onto new words and syntax without extra stress.

If you're learning Spanish or working with Spanish-speaking colleagues, the libros-programacion-gratis project by well-known Spanish web developer Miguel Ángel Durán (midudev) will come in handy. It's a living, curated library with over a hundred free and legal programming books.

What's Inside the Catalog

The project exists in two formats: an open website at librosgratis.dev and as a Markdown list right in the GitHub repository. Currently, the catalog contains 115 sources broken down into 32 categories.

The creators didn't just gather links to pirated copies from the web. All materials here are either distributed by authors under open licenses or posted on official university and publishing websites.

Here are the main areas the list covers:

• Classic languages: Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Rust, Go, Java, C++, C#, and PHP.
• Databases: relational SQL guides and NoSQL materials, including MongoDB and Redis.
• Infrastructure and tools: Git, Docker, Linux basics, and working in Bash.
• Computer science: algorithms, data structures, object-oriented programming concepts, and operating systems.

Translations of well-regarded classics are particularly interesting. For example, the JavaScript section contains the official translation of "Eloquent JavaScript" (JavaScript elocuente) by Marijn Haverbeke and a Russian-Spanish adaptation of Kyle Simpson's "You Don't Know JS" series. There's also a translation of the famous "Pro Git" book by Scott Chacon.

How the Project is Built Technically

The repository itself is kept maximally simple and transparent. The entire catalog is stored in a single structured TypeScript file at web/src/data/library.ts.

The README.md file at the repository root is fully synchronized with this database. If someone wants to suggest a new book, they just need to open a Pull Request with changes. The repository has clear moderation criteria:

• The material must be completely free and legal.
• The text language must be Spanish only.
• Format must be a web version (HTML) or a direct PDF file.
• The PDF size must not exceed the asset limit for Cloudflare Workers, where the web version of the catalog is deployed.

Thanks to this, the site runs fast without heavy databases on the backend. A static generator picks up changes directly from the codebase on every commit to the main branch.

Practical Benefits

Why should a Russian-speaking engineer look into a Spanish-language repository? There are at least three reasons.

First, language practice for IT. Spanish is the second most widespread native language in the world. If you're planning to relocate to Spain or Latin America, reading professional literature will help you quickly pick up local workplace slang and terminology. You'll learn how familiar patterns, data structure names, and architectural concepts sound in real interviews.

Second, alternative academic materials. The list contains many university course notes and textbooks from instructors in Spain and Mexico. For example, there are clear notes on low-level algorithms and assembly written in simple academic language without unnecessary "filler."

Third, it's a good example of how to build useful community projects. The repository has gathered nearly six thousand stars not because of complex code, but thanks to quality curation and convenient organization of materials.

Summary

Midudev's catalog turned out to be compact, convenient, and genuinely useful. There are no questionable scans or broken links to file-sharing sites. If you're looking for a reason to improve your Spanish or just want to refresh your basic knowledge of Rust, Python, or networking from an unusual angle, check out librosgratis.dev or fork the repository. The project is open to suggestions, and anyone can contribute a fresh translation through a standard Pull Request.