Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software

Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software (1999) is a book by <a href="/facts/Charles_Petzold/H3EEWJun">Charles Petzold</a> that seeks to teach how <a href="/facts/Personal_computer/koaYfNce">personal computers</a> work at a <a href="/facts/Computer_hardware/8jSjsCNv">hardware</a> and <a href="/facts/Software/RP79lVSW">software</a> level. In the preface to the 2000 softcover edition, Petzold wrote that his goal was for readers to understand how computers work at a concrete level that "just might even rival that of <a href="/facts/Electrical_engineer/YYXW1KLW">electrical engineers</a> and programmers" and that he "went as far back" as he could go in regard to the history of technological development. Petzold describes Code as being structured as moving "up each level in the hierarchy" in which computers are constructed. On June 10, 2022, Petzold announced that an expanded second edition would be published later that year. The second edition was released on July 28, 2022, along with an interactive companion website developed by Petzold.
The idea of writing the book came to him in 1987 while writing a column called "PC Tutor" for <a href="/facts/PC_Magazine/uPNIj5y0">PC Magazine</a>.

Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software open-in-new

Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software