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About this quote

What does it mean?
Deep understanding of software requires control over the hardware it runs on.
In plain terms
Serious programmers should build their own computers to understand the basics.
What can you take from it?
Full-stack understanding demands control from the silicon up.

Where it applies

  • embedded systems
  • computer science education
  • hardware startups

Putting it to work

  • learn computer architecture
  • experiment with microcontrollers

Questions to consider

  • Why build your own hardware?
  • Is full control necessary for good software?

Another view

Most developers today cannot build hardware due to cost and specialization.

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