Moths in the Machine: The Power and Perils of Programming

by Daniel Kohanski

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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312254067
• ISBN13: 9780312254063
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Excellent essay

Really interesting book, I had to read it from cover to cover, non-stop.Before undertaking the task to became a programmer, read this.Helps!

Interesting on two levels

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.

Good history of programming

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.

Says much that needed to be said!

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!

Excellent Read

Kohanski did a great job of covering the general field and history of programming. While his descriptions of programming were basic, they were not overly pedantic.His discussion on binary was excellent.I will admit that when he gets to the actual discussions on programming logic it became quite difficult for me to follow and much rereading was done. However, completely understanding those chunks was not necessary for going on with the rest of the book.I felt comfortable leaving parts behind. The glossary provided a nice compendium for information as well and I would encourage readers to turn there if they were having difficulty understanding certain sections.Overall, a great read.