The pattern on the stone
by W. Daniel Hillis · first published 1998
86% recommend14% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Short, clear introduction to how computers work, building from Boolean logic and simple mechanical examples to Turing machines and quantum computing. Suits newcomers and non-specialists, and reads almost like a novel.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Daniel Hillis offers an easy-to-follow explanation of how data is processed that makes the operation of a computer seem as straightforward as those of a bicycle. Hillis proceeds from an outline of basic logic to clear descriptions of programming languages, algorithms and memory. He then takes readers in simple steps up to the most exciting developments in computing today - quantum computing, parallel computing, neural networks, and self-organizing systems.
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The Pattern on the Stone by Danny Hillis (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pattern_on_the_Stone) Complexity a Guided Tour by Melanie Mitchell (https://melaniemitchell.me/BooksContent/CAGTReviews.html)
on “Ask HN: Books Similar to Code by Charles Petzold?” ↗A good layman's guide for computer science is Danny "Connection Machine" Hillis' "The Pattern On The Stone: The Simple Ideas That Make Computers Work". He builds up from Boolean logic to Turing machines to quantum computing in fewer than 200 pages.
on “The Book That Every Programmer Should Read” ↗The pattern on the stone by Daniel Hillis changed the way I look at computing and software. It is just simple book, but explains the computers in the initial pages using sticks and stones, in all seriousness and leads the reader…
on “Ask HN: What book changed your life in 2013?” ↗In addition, if you like "Code", I'd recommend The Pattern on the Stone by Danny Hillis (creator of Thinking Machines' Connection Machine supercomputer). It's much shorter than "Code" but covers basically the same ground much more quickly, but Code might be better first…
on “Where should I start learning Assembly?” ↗Besides "Code," I highly recommend "The Pattern on the Stone" by Danny Hillis, who also happens to be the designer of Thinking Machines' massively parallel supercomputer, the Connection Machine. It covers more material than Code in a lot less time. In "Code,"…
on “Fully Functional 1KB Hard Drive in Vanilla Minecraft” ↗…textbookish. Abelson also co-wrote Turtle Geometry, which is almost unknown these days and still eye-opening. (It's more of a math book than a programming one, but its point is to be both.) Daniel Hillis: The Pattern on the Stone, The Connection Machine. Richard O'Keefe, The Craft of Prolog. Jon Bentley. I remember pg's On Lisp as good.
on “Ask HN: What are some of the best written programming books?” ↗If they might enjoy something on computing, I'd recommend "The Pattern On The Stone: The Simple Ideas That Make Computers Work" by W.Daniel Hillis. It's very clear and well written, is quite short but covers a lot and can be enjoyed cover to cover more like a novel than a textbook.
on “Ask HN: Recommend a maths book for a teenager?” ↗Reminds me of The pattern on the stone by W Daniel Hillis where he builds a tic-tac-toe computer out of mechanical components. It's a great book for explaining how computers actually work. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pattern_on_the_Stone
on “Show HN: What would mechanical programming look like?” ↗…https://snap.berkeley.edu/ [2] https://arcade.makecode.com/ [3] https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333 [4] https://makecode.adafruit.com/ Also check out this tiny old book suitable for a total noob to computers: The Pattern on the Stone - The Simple Ideas that Make Computers Work by W. Daniel Hillis https://www.amazon.com/Pattern-Stone-Computers-Science-Maste...
on “Resources to encourage children to learn to code” ↗Three good books that try to introduce computer science to non-specialists from various angles: * The Pattern on the Stone: The Simple Ideas That Make Computers Work by Danny Hillis * D is for Digital: What a Well-Informed Person Should Know About Computers and Communications by Brian W. Kernighan (I think his Understanding…
on “Ask HN: Recommendation for the mom of a near-college-aged “tech geared” student?” ↗Anyone know the status? BTW can recommend "The Pattern on the Stone" by Hillis to anyone interested in computer science principles.
on “The future will have to wait (2006)” ↗Nand2Tetris is great and I'd like to add "The Pattern on the Stone" by Danny Hillis to the list. (I just noticed it was revised in 2015.)
on ““Code” 2nd Edition” ↗The Pattern on the Stone by W. Daniel Hillis [1] This book shocked me with the idea of a universal computer:-) "..there is really only one kind of computer .. all kinds of computers are alike in what they can and cannot do"…
on “Ask HN: What are the most eye-opening textbooks you have ever read?” ↗Danny Hillis wrote The Pattern on the Stone, one of my favorite books of all time, so I was very excited to see this essay. Wow, I was not disappointed.
on “Richard Feynman and the Connection Machine (1989)” ↗…better ways to code. If you’re anything like me you get bored reading one book for too long. I’ve found that having a second book going that I can switch to is great for that. A parallel track with The Pattern On the Stone (Hillis), The Pragmatic Programmer (Thomas & Hunt), The Mythical Man-Month (Brooks), and How Computers Really Work (Justice) provides a reprieve and some technical and cultural context.
on “Ask HN: Any advice for success you would give to a Software Developer intern?” ↗