There is a new whiff in the air, of an old wine or maybe new wine in new bottle. Books having alluring words like 'code phrases' in their title are coming out.

Now 'code phrases' does not seem so venerable like the 'objects' of object oriented programming, or 'components' of component based development. 'Reusable code phrases' would sound much better, except that the word 'phrase' essentially implies something you fit into a sentence (a program), and if it looks right (compiles correctly and works somehow), then voila... the dish is served and ready to be eaten.

With plethora of programming languages, database dialects, open source libraries, a new technique or 'happening thing' coming every year or so, it is but natural that programmers need quick tools to boost productivity in the short term, while they hope to come up to speed in a while. Code phrase books seem to be an attempt to make easier copy and paste reuse what has always been happening through google searches. Whether code phrase books will become a trend remains to be seen, because internet and google search will remain venerable alternatives for many.