Building a Universal Machine: A Hands-on Introduction to Computability

by Tomas Tulka

From the foundations of computing to the construction of electronic devices, this book attempts to build an easy-to-cross bridge between theory and practice, model and reality, thought and object.

A comprehensive, step-by-step guide to unraveling the intricacies of computer functionality, tracing its evolution from ancient logic to electronic circuits. This book is supposed to be engaging, with an emphasis on practical applications rather than dry mathematical concepts.

The hands-on approach ensures that readers grasp the fundamentals as they embark on the task of building a universal computer in JavaScript using only previously learned elements.

Genres: Computer Science, Computers, Computation

364 pages, Paperback

Published March 20, 2024

About the author

I’m a software developer, both by profession and passion. I’ve worked on a wide range of software products, from small startups to big corporations, and I've contributed to several open-source projects along the way. My journey hasn’t just been about writing code, though—I’ve also taken on management roles, growing from team leader to head of development.

Regardless of my position, I’ve worked alongside many software development teams, collaborating closely with both developers and non-developers.

In my books, I would like to share my knowledge and experience.

Reviews

[Barney Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not your typical dry academic read. It dives into hard stuff like Turing machines, recursive functions, and lambda calculus, but it's all about learning experience. It prioritizes practical examples, urging readers to construct and execute code rather than drowning in incomprehensible math formulas.

[Jason Kowalski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice and in-depth introduction to the foundations of computing by building a computer from scratch. Instead of bogging you down with tedious math, it has you write code that you can run and see in action. And it doesn't stop there—abstract models are turned into working machines, making complex concepts easy to grasp for mortal readers.