I'm trying to decide between the 1st and 2nd editions of the book 'Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software.' I've read previews of both, and it seems like the 1st edition is more friendly for beginners as it starts with a simple explanation of Morse code, while the 2nd edition jumps into some electrical concepts that feel a bit complicated. Since I'm a high schooler with no background in computer science but plan to major in it, I thought the 1st edition might be better to start with. However, I'm concerned since it was published back in 1999. I'm unsure whether the difficulty level between the two editions is very different, which makes me wonder if I should just go with the more recent edition. Any advice would be appreciated!
3 Answers
I got the 1st edition then picked up the 2nd when it came out. I don’t see a huge advantage to the 1st edition at this point. Don’t stress about the electrical concepts too much; just go with what works. The 2nd edition really dives deeper into Unicode and CPU workings, which are handy to know. That said, it's mostly timeless, and if you find the 1st edition cheaper, it’s still a worthy read. I'd recommend this book to anyone trying to understand how computers process information.
I've checked out both editions, and honestly, the introductions are pretty similar. They both start with Morse code, then touch on Braille, and later get to circuits. If I were you, I’d lean toward the latest edition since it’s supposed to cover more material, but you can't go wrong with either!
Thanks for the insight! That helps me a lot.
I have the 1st edition and I definitely recommend it! I used to suggest it to first-year students I taught, as it breaks down complex ideas really well, starting with Morse code and building up from there. Just keep in mind that it focuses more on the principles of computation rather than programming itself. I can't say much about the 2nd edition, but many folks say grasping the basics in the 1st ed will really help your programming journey in the long run.
Thanks for sharing! You really changed my mind about the 1st edition not being valuable just because of its age.
Got it! This really helped clarify things for me. I think I'm going to buy the 2nd edition. Thanks a bunch!