Turing's cathedral
by George Dyson · first published 2012
72% recommend24% neutral3% critical
Why HN recommends it
Detailed, well-written history of the IAS computer project at Princeton and the origins of digital computing, centered on von Neumann and the people he gathered; suits readers who want depth beyond the usual CS history.
Common criticism: Centers on von Neumann and Princeton more than Turing
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Legendary historian and philosopher of science George Dyson vividly re-creates the scenes of focused experimentation, incredible mathematical insight, and pure creative genius that gave us computers, digital television, modern genetics, models of stellar evolution--in other words, computer code. In the 1940s and '50s, a group of eccentric geniuses--led by John von Neumann--gathered at the newly created Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. Their joint project was the realization of the theoretical universal machine, an idea that had been put forth by mathematician Alan Turing.
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I ran into Nils Barricelli while reading Turing's Cathedral, which is a book I enjoyed throughly.
on “Maverick forerunner of artificial life and animation remains largely unknown” ↗…than he had available, for studying bomb blasts. Not only did he and colleagues largely create digital computers, but he marshaled the resources of the US government and academia to get it done. Dyson's Turing's Cathedral is a fascinating account of the development of digital computers. The early ones were amazingly physical, using wave propagation delays in liquid mercury, and repeatedly painting rows of oscilloscope…
on “The legend of John von Neumann (1973)” ↗If you want a very detailed account of the super early history of electronic computing, George Dyson's "Turing's Cathedral: The Origins of the Digital Universe." http://www.amazon.com/Turings-Cathedral-Origins-Digital-Univ... Other great titles I'd recommend is Steven Levy's "Hackers" http://www.amazon.com/Hackers-Heroes-Computer-Revolution-Ann...…
on “Ask HN: How to learn about the history of computing?” ↗On the other hand George Dyson's book "Turing's Cathedral" makes a compelling case that the group at Princeton building the IAS Machine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAS_machine), Von Neumann included, believed they were following Turing's paper quite directly.…
Even though I only scanned the article, many of those computers appear in Turing's cathedral G.Dyson[1], book which I enjoyed, given that there is not a lot of history lessons at the universities (at least the one I went to in Buenos Aires... UBA). [1] https://openlibrary.org/search?isbn=0375422773
on “Lost Generation: The Relay Computers” ↗"Turing's Cathedral" by George Dyson has a nice history of von Neumann, among others.
on “What John von Neumann Did at Los Alamos” ↗In addition to the great books listed here, a few more that might be of interest: - Turing’s Cathedral, by George Dyson - Black Software, by Charlton McIlwain - Programmed Inequality, by Mar Hicks The Dyson book is a rigorous and deep historical dive into the philosophical and practical origins of digital…
on “Ask HN: Best way to learn about computing history?” ↗You should read Turing's Cathedral if you are interested in Von Neumann's life.
on “Science and Tech of the Byzantine Empire” ↗…always good, and may replace parts of our life that are more beneficial. I don't agree with a lot o the points, but it was fascinating to see technology from a very different view point than I see it in. Turing's Cathedral - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12625591-turing-s-cathedr...: A terribly named book, since it barely mentions Turing (its focus is John von Neumann and his team). It does, however, give a reallly…
on “Ask HN: Summer reading” ↗Turing's Cathedral Darwin Among the Machines Technomanifestos Possiplex What Technology Wants A couple of not computer related, but quite interesting books- The Structure of Scientific Revolutions A Thousand Years…
on “Ask HN: Good books on the history of computer science?” ↗If anyone wants a bit more detail and color on this story, I recommend "Turing's Cathedral" by George Dyson. I saw it in a bookstore last year and picked it up. Was quite pleased to get more background on these seminal characters in computing history and was astounded to see much came from…
on “John von Neumann, EDVAC, and the IAS Machine” ↗You may be interested in Turing's Cathedral: The Origins of the Digital Universe, by George Dyson. Some additional discussion which you may find relevant is also available at https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6979671.
on “Suggest good computing history book(s)” ↗George Dyson's Turing's Cathedral is by far the best book I have read on this subject.
on “Ask HN: How to learn about the history of computing?” ↗…https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/digital-apollo The Apollo Guidance Computer: Architecture and Operation by Frank O'Brien - http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Apollo-Guidance-Computer-Archite... (highly detailed) I'd also recommend Turing's Cathedral by George Dyson and The Soul of a New Machine by Tracy Kidder. Many early IT systems used special-purpose hardware, and boundary between the software and hardware development wasn't as clear as it is…
on “Ask HN: How to learn about the history of computing?” ↗Nils Aall Barricelli https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nils_Aall_Barricelli (Woefully brief.) There's a lot about him in "Turing's Cathedral" by George Dyson.
on “The Father of Digital Life (2014)” ↗