Computer Architecture: From the Stone Age to the Quantum Age by Charles Fox
Not since the 1980s has computer architecture been so exciting! This book captures the moment, mining the history of computing to teach key concepts in modern hardware design and introduce the neural and quantum architectures of the future. Computer Architecture is an in-depth exploration of the principles and designs that have shaped computer hardware through the ages, from counting devices like the abacus, to Babbage’s Difference Engine, to modern GPUs and the frontiers of quantum computing. This engaging blend of history, theory, hands-on exercises, and real-world examples is sure to make for an insightful romp through a fast-changing world. You won’t just read about computer architecture, you’ll also gain the understanding to touch, build, and program it. You’ll explore the basic structures of a CPU by learning to program a Victorian Analytical Engine. You’ll extend electronic machines to 8-bit and 16-bit retro gaming computers, learning to program a Commodore 64 and an Amiga. You’ll delve into x86 and RISC-V architectures, cloud and supercomputers, and ideas for future technologies. Computer architecture is one of a few subjects that separate full-blown computer scientists from mere programmers. If you’re an undergraduate Computer Science student, it’s probably a requirement for your degree. If you’re a self-taught programmer or hacker, it may be a subject you wish to learn more about, both to make your programs run more harmoniously with your hardware and as a badge of professionalism that many employers look for. This book assumes you know some basic high school programming, math, and physics, but otherwise is self-contained.
