Computation Structures
Computation Structures by Ward and Halsteadby Ward and Halstead
Shares rank 2 of 3 computer architecture textbooks by recommenders
Recommended as a classic introduction to digital design and computer architecture, explaining how CPUs are built from basic gates and microprogramming from the ground up.
Recommended as a classic introduction to digital design and computer architecture, explaining how CPUs are built from basic gates and microprogramming from the ground up.
5 people gave an opinion
- recommend it
- 5
- criticize it
- 0
- approval share
- 100%
Recommended in 3 of 13 months
- November 2025: not recommended
- December 2025: not recommended
- January 2026: not recommended
- February 2026: not recommended
- March 2026: not recommended
- April 2026: not recommended
- May 2026: recommended
- June 2026: recommended
- July 2026: not recommended
- August 2026: recommended
- September 2026: not recommended
- October 2026: not recommended
- November 2026: not recommended (month in progress)
Why it doesn’t carry the badge
- 5 people recommend itNeeds 10 or more, not met.
- Nobody criticizes itNeeds 2 to 1 or better, met.
- Recommended in 3 of 13 monthsNeeds 4 or more, not met.
The same three rules apply to every product, and the badge can’t be bought. How the badge works
Other computer architecture textbooks people recommend
The two most recommended other computer architecture textbooks, with the same counts for each, so you can compare like for like. The tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs.
| Product | Recommend | Criticize | Approval | Months | Owned | Badge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RISC-V System-on-Chip Designby Harris and Harris | 6 | 1 | 86% | 1 | — | — |
| Computation Structuresby Ward and HalsteadThis page | 5 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approachby Hennessy and Patterson | 5 | 0 | 100% | 5 | — | — |
What people said
All 5 comments that mention it, newest first. Each links to the original comment.
“This is one reason I like the Computation Structures recommendation above.”
“this course builds a CPU from the basic gates”
“an absolutely fantastic text”
“a good vintage introductory digital design textbook”
“Here's a great book explaining microprogramming from ground up”
Counts come from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026. How we count. Report a mistake.