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Ask HN: Best way to learn about computing history?

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Re: Ask HN: Best way to learn about computing history?

#151

Post by cyberprunes »

rschachte wrote: post #57
robotguy wrote: post #7

Ben Eater's Youtube series "Building an 8-bit Breadboard Computer" is a really good introduction to the lowest levels of how a computer works: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLowKtXNTBypGqImE405J2... I recommended it to my daughter when she was taking a class in R and asked "But how does the COMPUTER know what to do?"

Shout out to Ben Eater. This dude explains how the internet works and rips open an Ethernet cable and hooks up an oscilloscope to it and decodes the bits that transfer over the physical cable. Very informative!

That's legendary stuff right there

Re: Ask HN: Best way to learn about computing history?

#152

Post by louwrentius »

bombcar wrote: post #117
louwrentius wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Offtopic: Reminds me that Ben Eater has gone 100% silent since last november (hope he is ok)

You’ll be glad to know his shop has a message about delayed deliveries dated this month. https://eater.net/shop

Hope that’s him, thanks

Re: Ask HN: Best way to learn about computing history?

#153

Post by BlasDeLezo »

A Computer Called LEO, by Georgina Ferry. This book tells the story of how Lyons teashops created LEO, the first business computer. It also tells the story of early computing, from the Difference Engine of Charles Babbage to the codecracking computers at Bletchley Park and the ENIAC in the US, and the story of postwar British computer business.

Re: Ask HN: Best way to learn about computing history?

#154

Post by chillpenguin »

quirino wrote: post #64
chillpenguin wrote: post #35

In terms of computing history, The Dream Machine by Mitchell Waldrop is incredibly good. In terms of "how computers work" I agree with others who recommended Elements of Computing Systems (aka nand2tetris).

The Dream Machine is easily one of the best-written books I've ever read. Really gives a good overview of how many people are involved in various ways in the evolution of computing.

Yes I agree, the writing is superb. I found out about it from Alan Kay, and so far every book Kay has recommended has been really good (you can find his reading lists easily online).

Re: Ask HN: Best way to learn about computing history?

#157

Post by drivers99 »

dhosek wrote: post #44
markus_zhang wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say if you have experience with vintage computer then it's probably worthwhile to get one. However just work with an emulator if it's not too exciting to hold a real machine because the cost of maintenance might be pretty high.

I'd second the emulator recommendation. While programming, say, an Apple ][+ can be fun, getting one running maybe not so much. Plus, with an emulator, you'll have the ability to do things like write your code in a modern editor and then paste it over to the emulator rather than trying to work with 8-bit tools. I used to hand-assemble my 6502 code back in the day because I couldn't afford to buy a fancy macro assembl…

An intermediate step between real hardware and emulation could be buying the hardware for a MisterFPGA.
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