Moths in the Machine: The Power and Perils of Programming [Paperback]

Daniel Kohanski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 10, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0312254067 | ISBN-13: 978-0312254063 | Edition: First Edition

For better or worse, computers are not literally running our lives. They are extraordinarily helpful in all aspects of our daily routines, from banking to transportation, shopping to surgery. On the other hand, a "bug" in a computer program can now lead to dire consequences, making the rule of the computer programmer more valuable than ever before.
In one fo the most unique yet necessary books ever to appear, Daniel Kohanski, a seasoned programmer and systems consultant, provides a breezy and insightful overview of the fascinating craft of computer programming. With topics ranging from history to aesthetics, from subroutines to ethics, Moths in the Machine will leave even the most inexperienced reader with a deep understanding of the critical role programmers play in the modern world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Good reading for anyone interested in how programs come into existence and particuarly good reading for those thinking of entering into the programming profession." --Kirkus Reviews

"By turns technical and accessible, practical, and philosophical..Readers wanting a factual introduction to the everyday tasks of programmers--or users wanting to better grasp the workings of their PCs--will not be disappointed." --Publishers Weekly

"Clear-headed thoughts on the ethical challenges posed by programming and the increasing ubiquity of computers...Kohanski certainly sets out the basics of programming for ordinary nontechnical readers with great clarity." --Jim McClelland, The Guardian

"So you wanna be a programmer? Before you buy a pair of Birkenstocks, check out Daniel Kohanski's new book" --Wired magazine

From the Author

The aim of Moths in the Machine is to give the general reader some understanding of what computer programming is all about, why it is so important - and why it is so difficult - and what are some of the practical and ethical problems that a programmer must face. I expect it will also be useful to beginning programmers, by giving them a solid foundation in a fast-changing craft.

The book was originally published in hardcover as The Philosophical Programmer. I have updated the preface and expanded the bibliography for this edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (April 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312254067
• ISBN-13: 978-0312254063
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,931,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Says much that needed to be said!, June 18, 2002

By 

P. Grimm (Kansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moths in the Machine: The Power and Perils of Programming (Paperback)

Thanks, Daniel, for adding your voice to the discussion about what we do with computers. I have the original hardcover version of this book, and am highly recommending it to my students and programming apprentices. Kohanski eloquently puts forth the argument for aesthetics in programming, a concept that is being lost as Microsoft et al. focus more and more on "user-friendly" methods of producing code at all levels (object-oriented, scripting, mark-up etc.) which rely on WYSIWYG interfaces. The nightmare code that emerges out the other end of these hands-off interfaces is making a huge impact on the reusability and therefore productivity of all those end-user produced applications. This is going to come back to bite us in the end, just like all other programming "shortcuts"! Maybe we can get more people to read books like this and understand what they are actually doing with their machines!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting on two levels, December 18, 2002

By 

Amanda H. Bazner (Worcester, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Moths in the Machine: The Power and Perils of Programming (Paperback)

As a programmer, I found this book's discussions on the aesthetics of programming to be unique and very helpful. The code samples given were not as interesting, but they were not aimed at experienced programmers. It is a perfect introduction for people who have experience in analyzing data (engineers, actuaries, etc.) but have never programmed. Don't read this book to learn new code tricks, or any specific language; but I've never read anything better about the art of programming, for either the professional or the beginner.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good history of programming, December 10, 2002

By 

MFlat (Vancouver, BC Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moths in the Machine: The Power and Perils of Programming (Paperback)

A great explanation of how the current state of programming came to be. However, the depth of this book is very simplistic, and won't hold the interest of anyone whose done more than a level 100 programming course.