Programming from the Ground Up - Softcover

Bartlett, Jonathan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0975283847 ISBN 13: 9780975283844

Publisher: Bartlett Publishing, 2004

Synopsis

Programming from the Ground Up uses Linux assembly language to teach new programmers the most important concepts in programming. It takes you a step at a time through these concepts: * How the processor views memory * How the processor operates * How programs interact with the operating system * How computers represent data internally * How to do low-level and high-level optimizationMost beginning-level programming books attempt to shield the reader from how their computer really works. Programming from the Ground Up starts by teaching how the computer works under the hood, so that the programmer will have a sufficient background to be successful in all areas of programming.This book has been used by universities as diverse as Princeton and DeVry.

About this title

About the Author

Jonathan Bartlett is the Chief Nerd in Charge at New Medio, where he architects custom software solutions for a variety of companies. Previously he has worked for EDS in their midrange department, and as the Manager of Internet Systems Development for Wolfram Research.

Jonathan has written a variety of books on programming, engineering, philosophy, and politics.  He also teaches a variety of homeschool co-op classes in computers, science, philosophy, and mathematics - sometimes all in the same class.

From the Inside Flap

Assembly language is the language of the computer itself. To be a programmer without ever learning assembly language is like being a professional race car driver without understanding how your carburetor works. To be a truly successful programmer, you have to understand exactly what the computer sees when it is running a program. Nothing short of learning assembly language will do that for you. Assembly language is often seen as a black art among today's programmers - with those knowing this art being more productive, more knowledgeable, and better paid, even if they primarily work in other languages.

Programming from the Ground Up uses Linux assembly language to take you a step at a time through these concepts:

* How the processor views memory
* How the processor operates
* How programs interact with the operating system
* How computers represent data internally
* How to do low-level and high-level optimization

Programming from the Ground Up includes access to online updates and a mailing list for readers of the book to discuss it with each other and the author.

According to Joel Spolsky from JoelOnSoftware.com:

"Trying to be a programmer without understanding how a CPU works is like trying to practice medicine without learning anatomy. Sure, you can have limited success curing patients with medical advice gleaned from Google, but on the whole you're going to be a pretty bad doctor. For those who missed out on learning assembly language, I highly recommend working through this book, even if you'll never program in assembly again. I promise that all kinds of lights will go on in your head and you'll be a vastly better programmer."

Programming from the Ground Up is being used by Princeton University in their COS 217 course, "Introduction to Programming Systems".

Edition details

• Publisher: Bartlett Publishing
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0975283847
• ISBN 13: 9780975283844
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 332
• Editor: Bruno Jr Dominick