# Specifying Systems: The TLA+ Language and Tools for Hardware and Software Engineers by Leslie Lamport

2 Hacker News commenters recommended Specifying Systems: The TLA+ Language and Tools for Hardware and Software Engineers by Leslie Lamport and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 2 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Recommended as a good starting point for learning to specify systems using mathematical proofs and state machine modeling.

## Why people recommend it

- Good starting point for learning specification (1 comments): "It is a good starting point for learning how to specify systems on the basis of mathematical proofs." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46255479))
- Teaches state machine modeling in TLA+ (1 comments): "Uses "TLA+" language to teach Behavioural (i.e. State Machine) modeling." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50315704))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [The Mythical Man-Month by Fred Brooks](https://hackerapproved.com/p/mythical-man-month.md): 56 recommend
- [Designing Data-Intensive Applications by Martin Kleppmann](https://hackerapproved.com/p/designing-data-intensive-applications.md): 37 recommend
- [A Philosophy of Software Design by John Ousterhout](https://hackerapproved.com/p/a-philosophy-of-software-design.md): 28 recommend
- [Code Complete by Steve McConnell](https://hackerapproved.com/p/code-complete.md): 14 recommend
- [The Architecture of Open Source Applications by Amy Brown and Greg Wilson](https://hackerapproved.com/p/architecture-of-open-source-applications.md): 13 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Specifying+Systems%3A+The+TLA%2B+Language+and+Tools+for+Hardware+and+Software+Engineers+by+Leslie+Lamport&tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Specifying Systems: The TLA+ Language and Tools for Hardware and Software Engineers by Leslie Lamport", https://hackerapproved.com/p/specifying-systems-the-tla-plus-language-and-tools-for-hardware-and-software-eng/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).