Software, from First Principles
Summary
Software, from First Principles demystifies the hardware-software stack, tracing how physical substrates enable computation—from logic gates and transistors to RAM, ROM, and the stored-program computer. It then explains how high-level languages, compilers, and hardware abstractions (CPU, memory, I/O, networking) coexist in a layered architecture, with the browser and WebAssembly shaping modern execution. The piece argues that understanding these foundations is essential for secure, reliable software design, especially as AI tools scale the pace of coding.