A new history of computer programming and the rise of PC user communities.

Code Nation explores the rise of software development as a social, cultural, and technical phenomenon in American history. The text offers a new history of personal computing that emphasizes the technical and business challenges that software developers faced when building applications for CP/M, MS-DOS, UNIX, Microsoft Windows, the Apple Macintosh, and other emerging platforms. Halvorson presents a popular history of computing that explores the experiences of novice computer users, tinkerers, hackers, and power users, as well as the ideals and aspirations of leading computer scientists, engineers, educators, and entrepreneurs.

Code Nation includes a “behind-the-scenes” look at application and operating-system programming practices, the diversity of historic computer languages, the rise of user communities, and early attempts to market PC software. The histories of Apple, Microsoft, and IBM are here, as well as the social movements that shaped personal computing and computer literacy debates in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. Code samples and over 80 historic photographs support the text.