“Code” 2nd Edition • Hacker News Board

Re: “Code” 2nd Edition

#151

Post by blub » Sat, Jun 11, 2022, 9:11 AM UTC

morninglight wrote: post #51

"Programming Windows" exposed the simplicity behind the Windows architecture. If you had even a smattering of C experience, Petzold could get you writing Windows applications the same day you opened his book. He triggered an explosion of software development. There are excellent books for novice Linux programmers, but unfortunately, nothing compared to Petzold's clear and direct presentation. .

If I remember correctly, Programming Windows had a desktop app focus, whereas Jeffrey Richter’s book(s) had a system focus. Then .NET happened and almost anybody could program Windows apps, assuming Microsoft didn’t keep deprecating frameworks and languages all the time.

And in the end it turned out that it’s not worth programming windows any more. Just use Qt, Java or the awful web technology of the day and you’ll probably be better off than with whatever MS is recommending.

Re: “Code” 2nd Edition

#152

Post by sarchertech » Sat, Jun 11, 2022, 11:47 AM UTC

benjaminclauss wrote: post #108

would love a similar book for Networking up to the modern Internet

I’m working in it

https://www.networksfromscratch.com/

It’s nowhere near done, but I’m steadily working on it.

Re: “Code” 2nd Edition

#153

Post by bitwize » Sat, Jun 11, 2022, 12:26 PM UTC

pbourke wrote: post #89

jrmg wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I often wonder: for someone with no understanding of how computers work; no idea about electricity and transistors, no idea about CPUs executing instructions, no idea about software and abstraction: what do they think about when they click a ‘play’ button in a music player, and the interface updates and music starts? Do they think about what is happening ‘inside’ the box? I think I do. I suspect I have a completely d…

> I find it hard to imagine how they must see the modern world. It must seem like magic! I think this is unnecessarily infantilizing. There are a great many very complex things in the modern world, and people must employ abstractions for most of it. I think with the rise of multi form factor computing, there is more basic literacy about the nature of computers these days. People don’t think that a phone god makes the…

We etch runes into stones, imbue them with lightning, and thereby make them come alive and do our bidding... and you want to tell me computers are not magic?!

Re: “Code” 2nd Edition

#154

Post by animesh » Sat, Jun 11, 2022, 12:27 PM UTC

Shorn wrote: post #111

Charles Petzold has a blog? With an actual RSS feed? I swear this is the first new blog I've added to my RSS feed reader in over a year.

Thanks for pointing this out. I would have missed it otherwise.

Re: “Code” 2nd Edition

#155

Post by elnatro » Sat, Jun 11, 2022, 1:12 PM UTC

Is this book useful for a 10-year-old-experience software engineer (I also studied Computer Science)? I usually see this book named as “worth it” but I don’t know if it is an introduction to computer science or it is really interesting for an experienced developer.

Re: “Code” 2nd Edition

#156

Post by donohoe » Sat, Jun 11, 2022, 1:42 PM UTC

If you'd like to support local independent book stores then you can pre-order it here:

https://bookshop.org/books/code-the-hidden-language-of-compu...

Its definitely a bit more more expensive (~$37 vs $32) than ordering it via links in post.

Re: “Code” 2nd Edition

#157

Post by runevault » Sat, Jun 11, 2022, 2:46 PM UTC

I never did read this book, one of the bigger holes in my technology reading. I should use this as an excuse to finally pick it up and dive in, once the new edition arrives.

Re: “Code” 2nd Edition

#158

Post by pacaro » Sat, Jun 11, 2022, 3:26 PM UTC

Narishma wrote: post #149

pacaro wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Absolutely! My first software job back in 94, on my first day I was given a battered copy of Petzold and told to read and do the exercises up to chapter 7. It was an extremely effective boot camp for a novice windows programmer

I don't remember there being exercises in those books.

You may well be correct, the instructions might just have been to code along with the book, I know that part of the exercise was definitely to ensure that I could use the tools. It was 28 years ago, I'm fuzzy on the details :)

Re: “Code” 2nd Edition

#159

Post by mrelectric » Sat, Jun 11, 2022, 3:40 PM UTC

elnatro wrote: post #155

Is this book useful for a 10-year-old-experience software engineer (I also studied Computer Science)? I usually see this book named as “worth it” but I don’t know if it is an introduction to computer science or it is really interesting for an experienced developer.

It's interesting because you'll learn how to explain things better to the newbies. Pick up a pdf on libgen, check it out. If you like it buy it, if not you're still square even.

Re: “Code” 2nd Edition

#160

Post by unethical_ban » Sat, Jun 11, 2022, 3:44 PM UTC

danielvaughn wrote: post #76

localhost wrote: post #30

Code is my favorite technical book of all time [1]. Charles does an amazing job of building a computer up from basic principles "two young boys who want to communicate after their parents tell them to go to bed at night" all the way to modern (for 1999) computers. He layers abstraction on top of abstraction all the way to a working computer. My only (slight) disappointment in the book is that he tries to cover operat…

I picked it up years ago, got through the first few chapters, but then never finished it. I loved the early buildup and still want to go back and keep reading.

Same! Still one of my favorite books ever read, but other than the floating point chapter it started getting over my head.