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Does anyone know a good resource to learn "a strong understanding of bits and bytes, and knowledge of how computers lay out data in memory"

DanBC 14y ago
Petzold's book "Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software" is good. It starts too gently, and ramps up too quickly. (http://www.charlespetzold.com/code/ http://www.charlespetzold.com/code/) The Art of Electronics Lab Book has plans for building a computer and it's pretty well documented, although very old. (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Laboratory-Manual-Electronics-Paul-Horowitz/dp/0521285100?tag=6519986691-21 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Laboratory-Manual-Electronics-Paul-H...) Another good way to learn is to find a circuit diagram and run it by pencil. Just like people learn programming by writing code on paper and running the software with a pencil; writing the variables and such. Here's one (http://www.nathandumont.com/sites/nathandumont.com/files/images/cpu.png http://www.nathandumont.com/sites/nathandumont.com/files/ima...) (not a great example) but you try to work out what values you need where to get various bits working. When you get a better circuit diagram you can create a memory map. Here's a link that describes what I mean. (http://www.clear.rice.edu/elec201/Book/hardware.html http://www.clear.rice.edu/elec201/Book/hardware.html) Good Luck!
skyraider 14y ago
"Elements of Computing Systems" is relatively compact and freely available online: http://www1.idc.ac.il/tecs/plan.html http://www1.idc.ac.il/tecs/plan.html You might learn the most by doing the first 6-8 projects.
zaptheimpaler 14y ago
Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective by Bryant and O'Hallaron might be a good resource. It also covers things like assembly code and caching that you might not be interested in, but its a solid introduction to the low level details on how computers work. Its used in my university (and many others) in the Introduction to Computer Systems course.

DanBC 14y ago

Petzold's book "Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software" is good. It starts too gently, and ramps up too quickly. (http://www.charlespetzold.com/code/ http://www.charlespetzold.com/code/) The Art of Electronics Lab Book has plans for building a computer and it's pretty well documented, although very old. (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Laboratory-Manual-Electronics-Paul-Horowitz/dp/0521285100?tag=6519986691-21 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Laboratory-Manual-Electronics-Paul-H...) Another good way to learn is to find a circuit diagram and run it by pencil. Just like people learn programming by writing code on paper and running the software with a pencil; writing the variables and such. Here's one (http://www.nathandumont.com/sites/nathandumont.com/files/images/cpu.png http://www.nathandumont.com/sites/nathandumont.com/files/ima...) (not a great example) but you try to work out what values you need where to get various bits working. When you get a better circuit diagram you can create a memory map. Here's a link that describes what I mean. (http://www.clear.rice.edu/elec201/Book/hardware.html http://www.clear.rice.edu/elec201/Book/hardware.html) Good Luck!

skyraider 14y ago

"Elements of Computing Systems" is relatively compact and freely available online: http://www1.idc.ac.il/tecs/plan.html http://www1.idc.ac.il/tecs/plan.html You might learn the most by doing the first 6-8 projects.

zaptheimpaler 14y ago

Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective by Bryant and O'Hallaron might be a good resource. It also covers things like assembly code and caching that you might not be interested in, but its a solid introduction to the low level details on how computers work. Its used in my university (and many others) in the Introduction to Computer Systems course.