ABSTRACT
Computers are everywhere. Cell phones, video games, household appliances, and vehicles all contain programmable processors. Each of these systems depends on software, which brings us to an important question: why should someone interested in building software study computer architecture? The answer is that understanding the hardware makes it possible to write smaller, faster code that is less prone to errors. A basic knowledge of architecture also helps programmers appreciate the relative cost of operations (e.g., the time required for an I/O operation compared to the time required for an arithmetic operation) and the effects of programming choices. Finally, understanding how hardware works helps programmers debug — someone who is aware of the hardware has more clues to help spot the source of bugs. In short, the more a programmer understands about the underlying hardware, the better he or she will be at creating software.
