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Ask HN: Where to learn about computer science and software engineering history?

5 pointsby nassimsoftwareover 3 years ago
I&#x27;m a CS major who has started to be interested in Computer Science and Software Engineering&#x27;s history.<p>The reason is that I would like to make a show like Extra Credits on YouTube but specific to tech. The goal is to tell the history of Computer Science and Software Engineering through drawings because I also have drawing skills.<p>What would be good ressources for learning more on the topic? What do you recommend?<p>Thanks in advance :)

3 comments

jonjackyover 3 years ago
PS - If you are interested in drawing, you might look up books and especially pictures of ENIAC, often called the first electronic computer. It was programmed with patchcords so it&#x27;s visually more interesting than all the gray boxes that came after. It looks more like a giant Moog synthesizer.<p>Try an image search on: Eniac monte carlo patch cords<p>Or look in the book <i>Eniac in Action</i> by Thomas Haigh et al. Lots of ENIAC-related diagrams linked to this page:<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;eniacinaction.com&#x2F;the-book&#x2F;supporting-technical-materials&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;eniacinaction.com&#x2F;the-book&#x2F;supporting-technical-mate...</a><p>for example this flowchart:<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;eniacinaction.com&#x2F;docs&#x2F;MonteCarloSecondRunFlowDiagramFromCode.pdf" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;eniacinaction.com&#x2F;docs&#x2F;MonteCarloSecondRunFlowDiagra...</a>
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jonjackyover 3 years ago
The standard textbooks by historians are:<p><i>A History of Modern Computing</i> by Paul Ceruzzi<p><i>Computer: A History of the Information Machine</i> by Martin Campbell-Kelly and William Aspray<p>There are good books by journalists and popular writers. Favorites on HN are:<p><i>The Dream Machine: J.C.R. Licklider and the Revolution That Made Computing Personal</i> by W. Mitchell Waldrop<p><i>Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution</i> by Steven Levy<p><i>Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origins Of The Internet</i> by Katie Hafner and Matthey Lyon<p>These and many many other books are recomended and described in this HN thread from two years ago:<p>Ask HN: Computer Science&#x2F;History Books? <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=22692281" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=22692281</a>
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ThrowawayR2over 3 years ago
PBS has a similar video series from perhaps which you can draw inspiration: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=tpIctyqH29Q&amp;list=PL8dPuuaLjXtNlUrzyH5r6jN9ulIgZBpdo" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;watch?v=tpIctyqH29Q&amp;list=PL8dPuuaLjX...</a>