250pp., x. '1' in number line. Notes, pp. 223-238; References, pp. 239-242; Index, pp. 243-250. Pale turquoise textured boards with sky blue spine and brilliant silver lettering; sky blue endpapers; very small bumps to corners, but leaving them essentially still square, sharp. Dustwrapper not price-clipped ($27.50) with illustration in shades of blue of old IBM typewriter 'arrow' key at center front cover, above title lettering in large white letters, thin-outlined in orange, across lower third front cover, above author name letters in thin black across bottom front cover; subtitle lettering on upper third front cover. Nugatory bumps to dw corners and thin wrinkling across spine ends, else Like New: tight binding no previous owner names. Clean text. Solid copy, despite nugatory bumps. Looks Unread. Review Copy, with Publisher's blurb laid in.

Seller Inventory # 001097

Contact seller

Report this item

Bibliographic Details

Title: Go To: The Story Of The Math Majors, Bridge Players, Engineers, Chess Wizards, Scientists And Iconoclasts Who Were The Hero Programmers Of The Software Revolution
Publisher: Basic Books/ Perseus Books Group, New York
Publication Date: 2001
Language: English
ISBN 10: 0465042252
ISBN 13: 9780465042258
Binding: Hardcover
Edition: 1st Edition
Condition: Fine
Dust Jacket Condition: Fine

About this title

Synopsis

In the 1950s, just before John Backus's team developed the Fortran language that revolutionized the first generation of programming, it took dozens of full-time programmers and operators to run and debug each of the era's room-sized computers. Today, languages like HTML are simple enough that anyone who knows it can set up a personal Web page, using a laptop that has many times the power of those early giant computers.In Go To, Steve Lohr chronicles the history of software from the early days of complex mathematical codes mastered by a few thousand to today's era of user-friendly software and over six million professional programmers worldwide. Lohr maps out the unique seductions of programming, and gives us an intimate portrait of the peculiar kind of genius that is drawn to this unique blend of art, science, and engineering. We meet the movers and shakers of every era from the 1950s to the open-source movement of today-iconoclasts such as Ken Thompson and Dennis Ritchie, the Bell Labs engineers whose Unix operating system and C programming language loosened the grip of IBM; Charles Simonyi, the father of Word, the most popular software application; and James Gosling, the creative force behind Java, the leading programming language for the Internet.With original reporting and deft storytelling, Steve Lohr shows us how software transformed the world, and what it holds in store for our future. "They took anyone who seemed to have an aptitude for problem-solving skills-bridge players, chess players, even women."-Lois Haibt, a member of IBM's original Fortran team"It's like building something where you don't have to order the cement.… You can create a world of your own, your own environment, and never leave the room."-Ken Thompson, creator of the Unix operating system"BASIC was an open city, Shanghai a hundred years ago. There were no laws."-Alan Cooper, the "father" of Visual Basic"There is an odd and obsessive side to it. The people who are best at it are the kind of people who are intellectually drawn to something like it's magnetic, sucked into it, and they don't know why."-James Gosling, creator of the Java programming language"Not being able to program is going to be like not being able to drive-lacking a fundamental skill in our society."-Brian Behlendorf, a leading figure in the open-source software movement

About the Author

Steve Lohr is senior writer and technology correspondent for the New York Times, and is co-author of U.S. vs. Microsoft. He lives in New York City.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Retired academic's reference library with specialization in philosophy, religion, science, and mathematics--all scholarly subject areas; Pre-Socratics to contemporary; biographies; some series collections. General stock also, including fiction, poetry, literary criticism, mysteries, some foreign language, children's, history, sociology, psychology, education. Some signed copies.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Theoria Books
MA, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

We abide by the current policies set by Abebooks. Please submit all orders through Abebooks.com

Shipping Terms

All domestic orders will be sent by USPS Media Mail, unless some other mode of shipping is requested or required and accepted in advance of shipping. International orders will be sent by USPS International Flat-Rate Priority envelope or box, unless the current weight and size restrictions cannot be met [e.g.: (1) the item is too large to fit the International Flat-Rate envelope or box or (2) the item weighs over 4 lbs. or (3) insurance is requested or required (e.g., the book is worth $40.00 or more)--in each such case, the item will be sent, only if the given destination country allows for it, by signing for the item.] All books sent by USPS Flat-Rate unpadded envelope (or padded envelope, moreover) will be wrapped in paper and packed between cardboard sheets larger than the book or with cardboard affixed at the corners, in order to prevent damage to the book during shipment. Books sent in boxes will also be wrapped in paper and suitably packed to avoid movement in box. The goal here is to ship essentially at cost, rather than to reap additional profit beyond the cost of shipping, thus keeping the customer's cost for shipping as low as possible.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	5 to 14 business days	3 to 6 business days
First item	US$ 5.50	US$ 12.90

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.