I disagree. A "real programmer" should know something about how the computer works, and should not revere anything below his level as "magic" or be afraid of i

I disagree. A "real programmer" should know something about how the computer works, and should not revere anything below his level as "magic" or be afraid of it, even if he/she will never need to deal with it. Understanding that integers are stored as binary bitstrings, and what this means, is the most basic level of competency in this area.