# Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective by Bryant and O'Hallaron

4 Hacker News commenters recommended Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective by Bryant and O'Hallaron and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 2 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** Readers recommend it for learning computer architecture and low-level code, and say it helps with binary hacking and kernel work.

## Why people recommend it

- Useful for low-level code hacking (2 comments): "I was self-studying computer architecture (Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective) and was able to turn what I learned around and hack our binary code" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48279281)) "Should be a good basis for kernel hacking." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49268051))
- Readers enjoy reading it (1 comments): "I'm really quite enjoying it." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48273433))
- Owned in every edition (1 comments): "This is the only book of which i have all three editions." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48276714))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Abelson and Sussman](https://hackerapproved.com/p/structure-and-interpretation-of-computer-programs.md): 55 recommend
- [The Art of Computer Programming by Donald E. Knuth](https://hackerapproved.com/p/art-of-computer-programming.md): 28 recommend
- [Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs by Abelson and Sussman](https://hackerapproved.com/p/sicp.md): 12 recommend
- [Quantum Computation and Quantum Information by Nielsen and Chuang](https://hackerapproved.com/p/quantum-computation-and-quantum-information.md): 12 recommend
- [Digital Design and Computer Architecture by Harris and Harris](https://hackerapproved.com/p/digital-design-and-computer-architecture.md): 8 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/013409266X?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780134092669) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Computer Systems: A Programmer's Perspective by Bryant and O'Hallaron", https://hackerapproved.com/p/computer-systems-a-programmer-s-perspective/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).