Understanding computation : from simple machines to impossible programs /
Tom Stuart
- Sebastopol, California : O'Reilly Media, Incorporated, c2013
- x, 317 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.
Includes index.
1. just enough Ruby -- Part 1. Programs and machines -- 2. The meaning of programs -- 3. The simplest computers -- 4. Just add power -- 5. The ultimate machine -- Part 2. Computation and computability -- 6. Programming with nothing -- 7. Universality is everywhere -- 8. Impossible programs -- 9. Programming in Toyland.
Finally, you can learn computation theory and programming language design in an engaging, practical way. Understanding Computation explains theoretical computer science in a context you’ll recognize, helping you appreciate why these ideas matter and how they can inform your day-to-day programming. Rather than use mathematical notation or an unfamiliar academic programming language like Haskell or Lisp, this book uses Ruby in a reductionist manner to present formal semantics, automata theory, and functional programming with the lambda calculus. It’s ideal for programmers versed in modern languages, with little or no formal training in computer science.