Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software
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✔️ File: PDF 34,52 MB • Pages: 645
The classic guide to how computers work, updated with new chapters and interactive graphics
“For me, Code was a revelation. It was the first book about programming that spoke to me. It started with a story, and it built up, layer by layer, analogy by analogy, until I understood not just the Code, but the System. Code is a book that is as much about Systems Thinking and abstractions as it is about code and programming. Code teaches us how many unseen layers there are between the computer systems that we as users look at every day and the magical silicon rocks that we infused with lightning and taught to think.”
– Scott Hanselman, Partner Program Director, Microsoft, and host of Hanselminutes
Computers are everywhere, most obviously in our laptops and smartphones, but also our cars, televisions, microwave ovens, alarm clocks, robot vacuum cleaners, and other smart appliances. Have you ever wondered what goes on inside these devices to make our lives easier but occasionally more infuriating?
For more than 20 years, readers have delighted in Charles Petzold’s illuminating story of the secret inner life of computers, and now he has revised it for this new age of computing. Cleverly illustrated and easy to understand, this is the book that cracks the mystery. You’ll discover what flashlights, black cats, seesaws, and the ride of Paul Revere can teach you about computing, and how human ingenuity and our compulsion to communicate have shaped every electronic device we use.
This new expanded edition explores more deeply the bit-by-bit and gate-by-gate construction of the heart of every smart device, the central processing unit that combines the simplest of basic operations to perform the most complex of feats. Petzold’s companion website, CodeHiddenLanguage.com, uses animated graphics of key circuits in the book to make computers even easier to comprehend.
In addition to substantially revised and updated content, new chapters include:
- Chapter 18: Let’s Build a Clock!
- Chapter 21: The Arithmetic Logic Unit
- Chapter 22: Registers and Busses
- Chapter 23: CPU Control Signals
- Chapter 24: Jumps, Loops, and Calls
- Chapter 28: The World Brain
From the simple ticking of clocks to the worldwide hum of the internet, Code reveals the essence of the digital revolution.
39 reviews for Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software
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PhillyMusicLover –
I originally read and fell in love with the 1st edition of this book 15 years ago… it gives you a very deep knowledge of what’s going on in your computer, but makes it understandable and accessible.
This edition improves and adds to areas that were left out (or now need updating for the web and JavaScript).
The really amazing surprised is the accompanying website to the book that allows you to interact with the concepts (circuits and design) in a web browser… so you can switch things on and off and see how they respond in the computer.
Highly recommend for anyone really trying to understand at the lowest level of how a computer works.
CAM –
Over the last twenty years I’ve purchased many copies of this book for family, friends, and students. It’s by far the best text to read for those who wish to understand what makes computers “tick” on a fundamental level. It’s the perfect book to read before taking any college level operating systems course, assembly, or computer organization/architecture courses.
anushmr –
This book teaches things we may never paid attention to. It’s captivating and educating. You don’t need to be a programmer to read this book. It’s just explains why things can be called code and how things work.
daniel armesto –
No concesions are made to make the material easier the easy way, by avoiding detail or difficulties. Still, the description of the most inner workings of a computer is presented to us step by step in a very illuminating way, which make it very clear even for the layperson and even an interesting read. The pictures, both in the book and the interactive ones in the accompanying webpage, are very clear and helpful.
A book to read if you want to understand how a computer really works at its deepest level.
Christopher Jiogno –
This is very informative. It makes understanding a computer’s communication with its self a lot easier
Yura –
As an ardent reader of the past 1st edition, I was fairly excited to get the latest version. That is, until I encountered the history chapter of the new edition.
For one thing, what I do NOT understand in this second edition is the newly added description of August Ada Byron (countless of Lovelace). The author claims it was Babbage who was the first programmer to design the engines, not Ada. I am not trying to start a futile argument here about who has more or fewer contributions, etc.
What I am trying to assert here is that it is undisputed that Ada (unless the new evidence arises) left *the very first demonstration* of what this seemingly imaginary machine, which didn’t even physically exist, was capable of through her program. Because Babbage designed the engine itself, that doesn’t automatically put him in the position of a programmer (despite Babbage being a brilliant engineer/scientist and may have had a simple or detailed program in his mind). However, it was Ada who gave a definite touch to programming concepts that ultimately led to modern-day programming. Ada deserves more recognition than a mere “tutorial writer,” and she is certainly entitled to the title she deserves.
Other than that, like the previous edition, this book is a must-read for people who are from related/unrelated fields. I always loved the 1st edition, and I would do too with the 2nd. Still, I think history should always be approached with more care, particularly if matters have potential controversies.
J Harikumar –
I never read the first edition of Code, but this seems to be an improvement. I’m only 100 pages in, but it is quite readable and I like the author’s pace – though there’s alot of material that’s covered, the pace is relaxed and the reader usually won’t feel overwhelmed. A minor flaw that I’ve noticed is that the physics underlying some of the engineering wasn’t explained in detail, and that would’ve helped with regards to be being able to understand the circuits. On the whole, this book seems to be great, and I’d highly recommend it to programmers trying to understand the software-hardware interface.
Michael Donoghue –
Disclaimer: I owned the first edition for years and read it a dozen times, mainly for pleasure since it’s not only informative but also just enjoyable to read. I’m a professional software architect and have dozens of textbooks on computer science and engineering so I’ve been around the block.
This is the kind of book I would buy all for all my friends (if I had more than a couple) and family members (if they were even slightly into computers, which they aren’t sadly). Petzold does an exceptional job at describing digital logic and guides you through building a conceptual CPU from very first principles.
I think his bottom up approach is the way to go and has helped me understand complex topics in an extremely simple way. When I’m not reading fiction, this is my go to bedtime reading.
The second edition has about 100 more pages than the first and some content has been completely reworked and it’s great.
If you ever had even a passing interest in knowing how computers work at a very fundamental level, get this book!
Arismar Sousa –
Excelente livro. Indicado para programadores de computador.
Susan G. Williamson –
A gift for my grandson. Thanks.
Bob –
Great book for understanding the concepts of what is code and how it runs on our computers. It’s a great read, not too technical but nails home the concepts. Start to finish you will learn how to build a computer in your mind!
Victor Izquierdo –
Encontré este libro como una forma de reforzar mis conocimientos básicos de la arquitectura de las computadoras pues provengo de un Bootcamp y quería algo para profundizar en estos temas. El autor usa muchas analogías para aclarar el los temas.
Trina D –
This was a gift for my son and he liked it 🙂
Jonathan Clark Richards –
Not sure what else to add here as the title says it all. Buy it if you have even the slightest interest in how computers work.
Some downsides is that the copy I got has creases in the cover and bent pages. I’m also not a fan of the cover color. But none of that makes this book any less awesome. I can just buy another one and gift this one.
Hayley –
A great read! Whether you are a computer scientist or just a curious person, this book does an outstanding job of building from the simplest of codes – a child using a flashlight on the window to communicate with their friend across the street – to the complexities of modern computers, this book reads like an approachable anthology of the use and development of code, and how it has impacted our life and the evolution of computing.
saurabh pandey –
It is a great book to understand the computer technology. it builds the story from the basics of materials science, electronics, physics, maths and takes you on the journey of the past to present.
It is a must read for anyone who is curious about how this machine came into existence.
a –
Love this book however the reason for my rating is the build quality of the book is terrible.
Thin translucent plastic-like pages with multiple creases and print issues throughout. As a result the print is also shiny.
I returned the first one as these issues were so bad it was illegible, but there are still issues with the replacement.
For a book of this price, you would expect much better build quallity overall.
Steve Furches –
Excellent!
jose ortiz –
Llego muy bien el libro, excelente, nuevo. Gracias!
Jeff B. Erwin –
I really wish this book had existed in 1978. I was in the second graduating class in EECS, a hybrid of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Berkeley. We had to learn digital design AND all the programming requirements. Basically, this book covers about 75% of the curriculum we covered over 2.5 years. This book could have been the textbook for a few classes, saving me untold time and agony.
Amazing book, makes a very complex subject clear and understandable. However, it’s not for the faint of heart. If you don’t have a deep desire to know how computers work at the most basic level, this probably isn’t for you.
HA Hacky –
I understand why this book, now in its second edition, is considered a classic. I was trained as an electrical engineer but haven’t practiced as one for many decades. Wanted a refresher and this book reminded me how brilliant the pioneers of computer science were. if you are willing to put your brian own work and read carefully and follow the online “tutorials” you will come away with a deep understanding of the fundamentals of digital circuits.
John –
I loved the first edition, but this is even better. I love the online examples, which make it much easier to visualize (especially flip-flops).
Akshaya M –
Great book, just felt the topics were little rushed after 12th chapter… but the explanation for the topics discussed was excellent.
lapis –
Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software ist auch in deutscher Sprache erhältlich. Ab der gymnasialen Oberstufe oder sehr interessierten Schülern (Mittelschule) ist das Buch in Englisch zu empfehlen, da die verwendete Grammatik im Vergleich zu englischer Literatur einfach zu verstehen ist.
Die technischen Begriffe lernt man in der englischen Version gleich mit, was zu einer enormen Erleichterung beim Erlernen einer Programmiersprache führt !!!!!!!!!!
Meine Empfehlung wäre dieses Buch in den Schulunterricht verpflichtend aufzunehmen (ein Apell an Elternbeiräte), oder als begleitende Pflichtlektüre (ein Apell an Lehrer) verpflichtend vorzugeben.
Saba –
This book is excellent for anyone interested in understanding what goes on behind the scenes. The best aspect of this book is its gradual build-up of knowledge; there’s no unexplored territory left once you’ve finished it. After reading this book, nothing will seem like magic to you.
Mohamed Khamis –
good book for computer science , But not good backing when charging the cover came with a little damage
Davor –
Excellent information. Towards the end, does get difficult.
Markus –
Rather a good night’s read than a handbook but really profound and well structured.
A T –
This is a great book very well explained from basic concepts to a more advanced level.
David –
Good concise write up on how hardware and software interact inside an Intel 8080 cpu.
Eduardo Hiroshi Nakamura –
Excelente
Dk –
Really good for beginners for simple understanding and implementations. Explains complex topics pretty well.
Chancellor Woolsey –
This is a book that is invaluable for people to bring together skills they may already have or to understand how to build their skills
denverteach –
I am a professor in the Information Systems department at a large state university. I consider this MUST READ for any Information Systems, Computer Science, or Computer Engineering student. I give this to my friends’ kids when they tell me they are interested in computers. Perfect gift for any high school graduate who is headed to a computer-oriented field. Informative and FUN- this book is extremely well-written.
JM –
Which is just shy of half way through. Phenomenal, incredible book. Petzold, what a guy. What a service to self taught devs like me. I think an early foundational book in any self taught devs library – one that’s looking to give themselves a computer science education, anyway.
Mike –
I’m a student who was struggling with computers and code. This book has allowed me to understand the topics with the author’s explanations.
Sam C. –
I found this book to be both entertaining and extremely informative. The author takes you from understanding how humans have encoded information since before the age of computers, through electronic circuitry, all the way to an overview of how programming languages interact with this hardware. Definitely recommend
Literal Learner –
I have the original that I studied when it was released. Thought reading this edition would be a good refresher to see changes I might not be aware of and was correct, still an excellent and highly recommended book.
Dan –
Fantastic book. Learned a lot. everything is explained super well!