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Ask HN: What's the best computer science book you've read recently?

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Re: Ask HN: What's the best computer science book you've read recently?

#101

Post by bluesilver07 »

faceyspacey wrote: post #48
_doky wrote: post #16

I still haven't read anything better than Code by Charles Petzold [1] and it's not even close. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Code-Language-Computer-Hardware-Softw...

It is a fantastic book. It doesn't take u into typical algorithms (at least that I recall), but rather it explains as intuitively as possible how a computer is built up from flip flops and binary logic to assembly, intermediate language and on to full-on compilation of a useable language. Basically beginner programmers can acquire a broad understanding of the foundation the programs you're building are built on by re…

Is this book relevant only to beginners? Do you think a programmer with about 7 years of experience (in C, C++, C#, Java) will find it useful?

Re: Ask HN: What's the best computer science book you've read recently?

#102

Post by nvarsj »

bluesilver07 wrote: post #101
faceyspacey wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is a fantastic book. It doesn't take u into typical algorithms (at least that I recall), but rather it explains as intuitively as possible how a computer is built up from flip flops and binary logic to assembly, intermediate language and on to full-on compilation of a useable language. Basically beginner programmers can acquire a broad understanding of the foundation the programs you're building are built on by re…

Is this book relevant only to beginners? Do you think a programmer with about 7 years of experience (in C, C++, C#, Java) will find it useful?

Yes! I read it about 5 years after finishing my degree (which already covered many of the topics in depth), and it was very enjoyable. It gives a very good, succinct (if simplified) overview of computer architecture.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best computer science book you've read recently?

#103

Post by djhworld »

bluesilver07 wrote: post #101
faceyspacey wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is a fantastic book. It doesn't take u into typical algorithms (at least that I recall), but rather it explains as intuitively as possible how a computer is built up from flip flops and binary logic to assembly, intermediate language and on to full-on compilation of a useable language. Basically beginner programmers can acquire a broad understanding of the foundation the programs you're building are built on by re…

Is this book relevant only to beginners? Do you think a programmer with about 7 years of experience (in C, C++, C#, Java) will find it useful?

Absolutely, the book sits nicely between being fairly general but goes into just enough depth without bewildering you.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best computer science book you've read recently?

#106

Post by insertnickname »

laxentasken wrote: post #100
jagger27 wrote: post #34

Like others in this thread, this is more (only, in fact) about programming but I found The Go Programming Language to be an absolutely perfect introduction to Go with fantastic examples and succinct prose. It's beautifully typeset as well, which doesn't hurt. http://www.gopl.io ISBN: 978-0134190440

I've been planning to get into GO this spring, would this be a good start? Or is there a possibility that it goes out of date?

It will still be relevant for years to come.

Re: Ask HN: What's the best computer science book you've read recently?

#108

Post by bainsfather »

mbrodersen wrote: post #70
jackyinger wrote: post #4

A New Science - Wolfram Maybe stretching outside the typical, but I have a weakness for cellular automata. Also, I've vowed never to buy another Oriely book or similar book ever. Online docs are free and stay up to date.

This one is a waste of time. Nothing new expanded to (what feels like) thousands of pages.

I read the whole book 15 years ago. It was a waste of time and money.

The only new thing I found was a Turing Machine with (iirc) 1 less tape - the whole book could have been reduced to a 4 page paper, as far as new work is concerned.

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