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The author of this piece, Ellen Ullman, wrote a really great book (IMHO) called "Close to the Machine" back in 1997; I'm not sure, but I think some of the book
by stevenbedrick 15y ago
The author of this piece, Ellen Ullman, wrote a really great book (IMHO) called "Close to the Machine" back in 1997; I'm not sure, but I think some of the book was based on a series of (very early) Salon.com essays. Besides being a thoroughly enjoyable nostalgia trip back to the original dotcom bubble, it is a very insightful and enjoyable exploration of what it feels like to program a computer, and why it can be such a rush. Highly recommended, especially for anybody who finds themselves struggling to explain what it's all about to a non-technical person.
http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780872863323-6 http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780872863323-6
- greenyoda 15y agoShe also wrote a novel called "The Bug", which is about a team of software developers trying to track down an elusive bug which likes to manifest itself during demos to VCs. It's a bit dated since it takes place in the mid-1980s, but those of us who have lived through that technology might find it interesting. (Apparently, there's still some interest in this book, since I see that a paperback edition is going to be released at the end of February.)