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[Linc]

Reading through Serapth's post on one of my other topics kind of sparked my interest - I'm now realizing I'm really interested in computer programming history. I read the book "Hackers" by Stephen Levy which I can only say good things about, and that was fascinating for me. Anyways, if you know a good book about computer programming history, or just personal knowledge, or a website, or really anything at all related to computer programming history, post it here!

[InfiniteStateMachine]

Worlds first programmer was a woman who was the daughter of a famous poet.


That's all I got :p


Hackers looks interesting, I'll add that to my summer reading.

Masters of Doom is one of my favourite books. It's more related to games but it involves John Carmack so I think it counts.

Also Soul of a New Machine is good. It's more focused on processor development and engineering.

[Dragonmaw]

Worlds first programmer was a woman who was the daughter of a famous poet.

Specifically, Countess Ada Lovelace. She developed programming theory for Babbage's analytical engine, and was the daughter of Lord Byron. She is a pretty badass lady.

[InfiniteStateMachine]

definitely my kind of woman. Pretty classy style too 

[C.D Buckmaster]

So you're telling me that I'm a practitioner of a field created by a direct descendant of Lord Byron?

 

[InfiniteStateMachine]

Yes. Although while she's his daughter he died when she was 9 and they didn't have much of a relationship according to wikioedia.

[DavidCaruso]

It's not solely programming-focused but I really enjoyed Dealers of Lightning by Michael A. Hiltzik when I read it a few years back. It's about the history of Xerox PARC and how the people there basically invented computing as we know it today, while Xerox themselves essentially failed to capitalize on most of it. In addition to the broad focus there's also a lot of interesting detail about the relationships and dynamics between the actual collaborators there, internal political battles, the different people involved and how they got there (as well as where they are now), etc. Pretty interesting and entertaining stuff.