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Ask HN: Where can one learn about how computers work?
A friend of mine wants to understand how computers work. I began explaining how binary works and a (very) basic introduction to how the processor, RAM, and graphics card work, but I am looking for a book or other (online?) resource that I can recommend to him (and possibly even read/watch myself) to get a more thorough understanding.
I would appreciate any references, including but not limited to: logic gates, RAM, units of measurement (MHz, MB, etc.), and input/output.
Thank you in advance.
- angersock 12y agoI always recommend Code by Microsoft Press--good introduction to the fundamentals of computer engineering.
- spb 12y agoAfter Code, I recently discovered Brian Kernighan's D is for Digital, published in 2011, which gives a much more concrete description of how modern computing works.
- esert 12y agoHere's a talk by Richard Feynman where he explains how computers work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKWGGDXe5MA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKWGGDXe5MA
- zurn 12y agoAfter you get past the components, some computer architecture will do you good. See eg https://www.coursera.org/course/comparch https://www.coursera.org/course/comparch. There's also the classic Hennessy & Patterson book.
- bra-ket 12y agoBuilding a Modern Computer from First Principles: http://www.amazon.com/The-Elements-Computing-Systems-Principles/dp/0262640686 http://www.amazon.com/The-Elements-Computing-Systems-Princip...
- logn 12y agoComputer Organization and Architecture by Stallings http://www.amazon.com/Computer-Organization-Architecture-Stallings-Communications/dp/013293633X http://www.amazon.com/Computer-Organization-Architecture-Sta...
- rdc12 12y agoNand2Tetris, looks quite good but I havn't read it myself
- nyddle 12y agoCharles Petzold, "Code".