The Philosophical Programmer: Reflections on the Moth in the Machine [Hardcover]

Daniel Kohanski (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Meditative and yet authoritative, The Philosophical Programmer celebrates the creative possibilities of programming while reminding the reader of technology's ethical conundrums. Daniel Kohanski keeps this slim volume rooted in valid examples, providing a rich exploration of the thought process involved in machine code. He treats programming as a language, detailing its elegance and efficiency from the earliest computer inventions to the present day. Because of the book's clear, conversational tone, The Philosophical Programmer can be read cover to cover by nonprogrammers and still be fascinating to knowledgeable veterans.

In the preface to The Philosophical Programmer, Kohanski writes, "In the last five years books have flooded the marketplace describing in detail what some computer product does, or how to write programs in some particular language. Yet there has been very little discussion about what programming is and about the meaning of programs for our lives." Kohanski fills that void with The Philosophical Programmer--a rich and engaging history interwoven with well-constructed commentary. --Jennifer Buckendorff

From Publishers Weekly

Defeating the moth in the machine?the origin of the term "computer bug"?is a challenge to which longtime programmer Kohanski has dedicated his life. But before he examines programming kinks here, he must lay the groundwork by explaining what a programmer's tasks are and the tools they use to accomplish them. In crisp prose, he offers up a programming and computer primer, expositing hardware systems, tracing the evolution of programming languages and recalling how memory works. He defines "assembler" and "algorithm" and shows us how programmers interface with each. Kohanski organizes his book in a highly structured way, with general points at the beginning of chapters that yield to specific examples. By turns technical and accessible, practical and philosophical, the book lives up to the dual billing of its title. Only at the end of this short, sweeping tract, when Kohanski makes the case that "there is no going back to a more innocent time," does it devolve into boilerplate. Though the book is at its best when delicately using metaphor to explain programming (he compares computer memory to human consciousness) and when making its broader points, 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.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 234 pages
• Publisher: St Martins Pr; 1st edition (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312186509
• ISBN-13: 978-0312186500
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,171,042 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars You need to understand a tool to use it effectively, March 26, 2001

By 

Howard Bolling (White Hall, Md USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Philosophical Programmer: Reflections on the Moth in the Machine (Hardcover)

I've always thought that, if you don't understand how a tool works, and where it came from, it is impossible to use it effectively. It doesn't matter whether the tool is a power saw, a bulldozer, or a computer. The Philosophical Programmer provides just that kind of background for computers. The book's cover calls it "a programming book for English majors," but it's considerably more than that. Even if you have absolutely no desire to know the evolution of memory chips and programming languages, you should still read the rest of this book. If you're already neck-deep in geek, read it for the insights about the computer as a tool and an extension of a person.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Intro for the beginner, waste of time for the vet, July 23, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Philosophical Programmer: Reflections on the Moth in the Machine (Hardcover)

What I had hoped to find in The Philosophical Programmer was insights into the synergies between philosophy and programming. What I got was yet another introduction to programming, albeit a quality one.

A more accurate title would be Introduction To Programming By a Philosophical Author. In other words, the author has a sound philosophy for describing various aspects of programming (and making them intuitive), but offers no philosophy for a programmer to apply to her or his job.

What I wanted but didn't get was a fresh perspective on what a programmer does and how she or he can apply various philosphies to make them better. For example, Descartes' method of doubt is perfectly suited to coding.

I recommend this book to anyone who needs a general (and soft) introduction to programming. If your a seasoned vet, read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book that fills the gaps, June 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Philosophical Programmer: Reflections on the Moth in the Machine (Hardcover)

Other programming texts will teach you to be a code construction worker, this book will teach you to be an artist. Covers many of the forgotten or overlooked aspects of programming and explores what it means to be a coder. A unique and excellent book.