How does computer science work?
How does computer science work?
Answering 28 Key Questions Every Software Engineer Should Know
About the Book
"How Does Computer Science Work?" is a comprehensive guide that answers 28 essential questions every software engineer should know, providing insights into the core technologies that shape our digital world.
This book bridges the gap between curiosity and understanding, tackling topics like how browsers work, how cryptography secures data, and how machine learning learns. It dives deep into modern innovations such as AI, Web3, and quantum computing, all while maintaining an approachable and engaging tone.
Each chapter is designed to be self-contained, allowing you to explore topics in any order that piques your interest. Whether you’re a seasoned developer seeking to deepen your knowledge or a curious learner eager to unravel the “how” behind technology, this book is your ultimate resource.
By the end of this journey, you’ll have a profound understanding of how the technologies you rely on daily truly work—and a newfound appreciation for the elegance and complexity of computer science.
What You’ll Learn
- Foundational Concepts: Master the building blocks of computer science, from algorithms and data structures to operating systems and networking protocols.
- Essential Technologies: Dive deep into how key technologies work, including HTTP, cryptography, databases, and cloud computing.
- Programming Insights: Explore the world of programming languages, compilers, and software development methodologies.
- Cutting-Edge Fields: Gain an understanding of emerging areas like artificial intelligence, machine learning, quantum computing, and blockchain.
- Practical Applications: Discover how computer science is applied in real-world scenarios like search engines, cybersecurity, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things.
Who This Book Is For
This book unlocks the essentials of computer science for a wide range of readers:
- Future Software Engineers: Build a rock-solid foundation for a successful career in software development.
- Computer Science Students: Gain practical insights and real-world context for your studies.
- Self-Taught Programmers: Deepen your understanding and fill in knowledge gaps.
- Experienced Developers: Refresh your knowledge and explore cutting-edge technologies.
- Tech-Curious Minds: Discover how the digital world works, from algorithms to AI.
If you want to understand the "why" behind the "how" of software, this book is for you.
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About the Author
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: How HTTP Works
- The OSI Model
- The Request Path: The Full Picture
- Technical Foundation of HTTP/1.1
- Technical Foundation of HTTP/2
- HTTP/3 and the QUIC Revolution
- Chapter 2: How Cryptography Works
- Encryption in General and Techniques: Securing the Secrets
- Hashing Algorithms: Fingerprints of Data
- Digital Signatures and Certificates: Authenticating the Sender
- Secure Protocols: Building an Encrypted Tunnel
- Chapter 3: How Compilers Work
- The Compiler as a Skilled Translator
- Compilation Phases: A Detailed Breakdown
- Code Generation (Backend)
- Compilers vs. Transpilers: Key Differences
- Chapter 4: How Interpreters Work
- Introduction: Fast Food vs. Home-Cooked Meals
- Interpreters vs. Compilers
- The Role of Dynamic Typing in Interpreters
- JIT Compilation: A Hybrid Approach
- AOT (Ahead-of-Time) vs. JIT Compilation
- Modern Implementations
- Chapter 5: How Garbage Collection Works
- Introduction: The Cleaning Crew of Your Code
- Memory Layout: Where Does Everything Go?
- Limits of Manual Memory Management
- Managed Memory Systems
- Garbage Collector Missions
- Types of Garbage Collectors
- Characteristics of Garbage Collectors
- Why Garbage Collection?
- Detailed Garbage Collection Algorithms
- Chapter 6: How Virtual Machines (VMs) Work
- Introduction: The Factory Analogy
- V8 Virtual Machine
- JVM (Java Virtual Machine)
- Erlang Runtime System (ERTS)
- Chapter 7: How Programming Languages Work
- Introduction: Language as a Bridge
- Type Systems: Static vs. Dynamic, Strong vs. Weak Typing
- Execution Models: Compiled, Interpreted, and Hybrid Languages
- Memory Management: Stack, Heap, and Garbage Collection
- Domain-Specific Languages (DSLs): Design and Applications
- Chapter 8: How Browsers Work
- Browser Internal Architecture
- Rendering Pipeline: From HTML to Pixels
- Critical Rendering Path and Optimization
- Key Web Standards and Their Impact
- CORS and Security Policies
- Chapter 9: How Frontend Rendering Techniques Work
- Client-Side Rendering (CSR)
- CSR with Prefetching and Preloading
- Server-Side Rendering (SSR) with Hydration
- Static Site Generation (SSG)
- Incremental Static Regeneration (ISR)
- Partial Pre-Rendering (PPR)
- Comparing Techniques
- Chapter 10: How File Systems Work
- Introduction to File Systems
- Core Concepts
- File System Architecture
- Common File System Types
- How Data is Stored and Retrieved
- File System Operations
- File System Security
- File Systems in Distributed and Cloud Environments
- Future of File Systems
- Chapter 11: How Databases Work
- What Is a Database?
- Storage: From Memory to Disk
- Data Organization: Rows vs. Columns
- The Role of Indexes
- Transaction Management
- Eventual Consistency in Distributed Systems
- Chapter 12: How Caching Works
- Cache Strategies
- Cache Eviction Policies
- Distributed Caching
- Real-World Use Cases: Web Performance and API Caching
- Chapter 13: How Containerization Works
- What is Containerization?
- Types of Containerization
- Containerization vs. Virtualization
- Union File Systems and Layered Architecture
- Image Building and Caching in Docker
- Networking in Containers: Bridging, Overlay, and Host Modes
- Container Orchestration Principles
- Chapter 14: How Cloud Platforms Work
- Infrastructure: Virtualization, Containers, and Orchestration
- Core Concepts: SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS Models
- Behind-the-Scenes of AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud
- Edge Computing: A Detailed Perspective
- Chapter 15: How Search Engines Work
- Indexing and Crawling: Building the Search Index
- Ranking Algorithms: PageRank and Beyond
- Chapter 16: How Big Data Analytics Works
- Core Concepts
- Tools: Apache Hadoop, Spark, and Kafka
- Applications: Personalization, Fraud Detection, and Predictive Analytics
- Challenges
- Chapter 17: How AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP) Work
- Artificial Intelligence
- Natural Language Processing
- Deep Learning Models
- Sentiment Analysis and Chatbots: Applications of NLP
- Chapter 18: How Machine Learning Works
- What is Machine Learning?
- How Does Machine Learning Work?
- Approaches in Machine Learning
- Common Models in Machine Learning
- Applications of Machine Learning
- Tools and Frameworks
- Hardware for Machine Learning
- Future Directions in Machine Learning
- Chapter 19: How Neural Networks Learn
- What are Neural Networks?
- How Neural Networks Work
- How to Train Neural Networks
- Neural Network Architectures
- Applications of Neural Networks
- Chapter 20: How Web3 (Blockchain) Works
- The Foundation: Blockchain
- How Traditional vs. Blockchain Transactions Work
- The Components of Web3
- Benefits of Web3
- Challenges of Web3
- Chapter 21: How IoT (Internet of Things) Works
- What’s IoT?
- Communication Protocols: MQTT, CoAP, and Zigbee
- IoT Architecture: Edge, Fog, and Cloud Computing
- Sensor Networks and Data Collection
- Security Challenges in IoT
- Chapter 22: How Embedded Systems Work
- Embedded System Components
- Communication Protocols: I2C, SPI, UART
- Embedded Development Tools and Debugging
- Chapter 23: How Gaming Engines Work
- Rendering Pipelines: Real-Time Rendering vs. Pre-Rendered Scenes
- Physics Engines: Collision Detection, Fluid Simulation, and Rigid Body Dynamics
- AI in Games: Pathfinding, Decision Trees, and Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment
- Gaming Engine Development: Popular Frameworks and Tools
- Chapter 24: How Quantum Computing Works
- What is Quantum Computing?
- Quantum Bits (Qubits): Superposition and Entanglement
- Quantum Gates and Circuits: Basic Building Blocks
- Quantum Algorithms: Grover’s and Shor’s Algorithms
- Quantum Development Frameworks: Qiskit, Cirq
- Chapter 25: How Cybersecurity Works
- The Importance of Cybersecurity
- Key Concepts in Cybersecurity
- Common Cybersecurity Threats
- Cybersecurity Techniques and Tools
- Cybersecurity Frameworks and Standards
- Emerging Trends in Cybersecurity
- Chapter 26: How Load Balancers Work
- What is a Load Balancer?
- Types of Load Balancers
- How Load Balancers Work
- Key Components of a Load Balancer
- Real-World Use Cases
- Chapter 27: How Package Managers Work (PNPM)
- What is a Package Manager?
- PNPM: Redefining Package Management
- Inside PNPM: How It Works
- Workspaces: Enabling Monorepos
- Chapter 28: How Monorepo Managers Work
- Monorepo Managers: The Conductor of Codebases
- Dependency Management: A Graph-Based Approach
- Cycle Detection
- Reachability Analysis
- Shortest Path Algorithms
- Cache Handling
- Real-World Applications: Nx and Turborepo
- Conclusion
- Index
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