PLAY PODCASTS
Kopec Explains Software

Kopec Explains Software

140 episodes — Page 3 of 3

Ep 39#39 All About Bugs

Bugs in computing systems cost billions of dollars and millions of hours of lost productivity each year. In this episode we break down bugs. What are they? What causes them? How can they be prevented? And how are they fixed? We talk about the different types of bugs including hardware bugs, design bugs, and software bugs. We discuss software engineering methodologies to prevent them, safer programming languages, testing, and more. Show Notes Episode 30: Cybersecurity with Duane Dunston Episode 12: Open Source Software Episode 34: Video Game Distribution and GameStop Dave and Rebecca's iPhone Police Incident Twitter Thread Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Mar 8, 202124 min

Ep 38#38 The History of macOS

The Macintosh is one of the oldest mainstream computing platforms still in use. Its operating system has had to evolve through multiple difficult transitions to stay relevant. In this episode we discuss the history of the Mac's operating system. Or perhaps we should use the plural "operating systems," since the Mac has really been through two distinct eras with very different operating systems. From 1984 to 2001 the "Classic Mac OS" evolved, with difficulty, from supporting a machine with an 8 MHZ processor and 128 KB of RAM to Internet era multimedia machines. In 2001 it was replaced by Mac OS X built from the foundations of NeXTStep, an operating system that could trace its history to 1989, and the even older Unix, circa 1969. Today Mac OS X has evolved into iOS, tvOS, watchOS, and macOS 11. All of this and much more in this special episode for #MARCHintosh, a movement by creators to celebrate the history of the Macintosh. Show Notes Episode 29: Why was the Original Macintosh Significant? Episode 23: The Mac's Instruction Set Architecture Transitions Episode 32: What is Unix? Episode 21: How have UIs Evolved? A/UX via Wikipedia Taligent via Wikipedia Copland via Wikipedia BeOS via Wikipedia NeXTStep via Wikipedia Mac OS 9 Funeral with Steve Jobs via YouTube Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Mar 1, 2021

Ep 37#37 How do Podcasts Work?

We discuss the history and software infrastructure behind podcasts. Podcasts are distributed using RSS feeds and MP3 files. They are hosted on web servers and podcast feeds are indexed by podcast directories. A podcast player connects to a podcast directory when you search for shows, and it connects to RSS feeds to find new episodes of shows you subscribe to. When you play an episode, your podcast player downloads the corresponding MP3 file from a web server. We explain how all of this works. Plus, we talk about how the podcast ecosystem has evolved and what software you need to start your own podcast. Show Notes Episode 36: XML Episode 26: Napster Episode 6: How does the Web Work? Audacity - Audio Recorder/Editor Pinecast - Podcast Host - Use referral code r-9db122 for 40% off for 4 months. Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live Check out our podcast host, Pinecast. Start your own podcast for free with no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-9db122 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Kopec Explains Software.

Feb 22, 202119 min

Ep 36#36 What is XML?

Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a data-interchange format that can be used as a meta file format: A format for defining other file formats. Commonly used in Web services for transmitting the results of API calls, it also underlies everything from Microsoft Office's file formats to RSS, the format of podcast feeds. You use XML based file formats every day, even if you don't know it. In this episode we dive into how XML works, what it looks like, and how it's used by programmers, programs, and everyday users. Show Notes Episode 6: How does the Web work? Episode 20: How do Digital Images Work? XML via Wikipedia Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Feb 15, 202114 min

Ep 35#35 The C Programming Language

Today, by some measures, C is the most popular programming language in the world. The early history of C is deeply intertwined with Unix. But C, a relatively simple language, grew well beyond its roots to become fundamental to the development of modern operating systems, essential libraries, device drivers, programming language implementations, and so much more. In this episode we discuss the history of C, its most important characteristics, the reasons for its popularity, and its influence. Show Notes Episode 32: What is Unix? Episode 11: What is a Programming Language? TIOBE Index — Programming Language Popularity Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Feb 8, 202117 min

Ep 34#34 Video Game Distribution and GameStop

Video game distribution has always been split between two different value chains: console games and PC games. In this episode we discuss why console games have historically been distributed differently from PC games. We get into the different kinds of restrictions that each market has faced, and how online distribution has evolved. Then we talk about GameStop. We provide a little background on the company and why it has been suffering the last few years. Finally, we conclude by offering our opinions on the current controversy surrounding the rapid rise in the share price of GameStop's stock. Show Notes Episode 16: The Personal Computer Revolution Game Over: How Nintendo Conquered the World by David Sheff — book that goes into the details of Nintendo's distribution system in the 1980s and early 1990s via Amazon Console Wars by Blake Harris — book that goes into video game distribution on Nintendo and Sega platforms of the 1990s via Amazon GameStop via Wikipedia GameStop ($GME) Financial Statistics via Yahoo! Finance Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Find out more at http://kopec.live

Feb 1, 202121 min

Ep 33#33 What is the Difference Between Information Technology and Computer Science?

"Information Technology" and "Computer Science" are often confused. But they are really two different disciplines that both involve working with computers. In this episode we explain the differences. We also delve into the multifaceted meaning of the term computer science. We hope to give listeners a better understanding of what someone who works in IT does, versus what someone who works in CS does. Should you ask your software development friend for help fixing your computer? Show Notes Hackers and Painters by Paul Graham Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Jan 25, 202115 min

Ep 32#32 What is Unix?

Unix is the most influential operating system of all time. In this episode we discuss its history, its evolution, and its philosophy. We trace Unix from its origins at Bell Laboratories, through the Unix Wars, and into the dominance of its clone, Linux. We talk about its relationship to the C Programming Language, the four points of its philosophy as outlined by McIlroy, and its future. Join us for a quick dive into Unix. Show Notes Episode 2: What is an Operating System? Episode 12: Open Source Software Episode 19: What is Linux? Unix Time-Sharing System: Foreword by McIlroy, Pinson, Tague via Archive.org Unix: A History and a Memoir by Brian Kernighan via Amazon Review of Unix: A History and a Memoir by David Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Find out more at http://kopec.live

Jan 18, 202122 min

Ep 31#31 PowerPoint

PowerPoint has completely changed the way that we communicate. But where did it come from? In this episode we discuss the origins and impact of PowerPoint. We go through the product's history including what it displaced, its development by a startup company, and its evolution under Microsoft. Then we go into some of its criticisms and provide some tips for making great slides in the age of online presentations. Show Notes PowerPoint via Wikipedia Sweating Bullets: Notes about Inventing PowerPoint by Robert Gaskins via Amazon Beginnings of PowerPoint by Dennis Austin via Computer History Museum The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Carmine Gallo via Amazon Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Find out more at http://kopec.live

Jan 11, 202121 min

Ep 30#30 Cybersecurity with Duane Dunston

What is cybersecurity? This week we are joined by Professor Duane Dunston of Champlain College, an expert in cybersecurity. Duane explains the field from multiple perspectives. He helps us understand the threats, how they are mitigated, and the roles of practitioners in the field. He differentiates between the scale of threats to organizations versus individuals and leaves us with some tips to improve on the security of our systems. Show Notes Duane Dunston via Champlain College Duane Dunston on Twitter SANS NewsBites InfoSecSherpa Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Jan 4, 202132 min

Ep 29#29 Why was the Original Macintosh Significant?

The original Apple Macintosh, often referred to as the Macintosh 128K, was a revolutionary device because it brought the Graphical User Interface (GUI) and the mouse to the general public. Released in 1984, the Macintosh 128K was not the first computer with a GUI and a mouse, but it was the first to be priced within the realm of possibility for regular users. Despite its significance, the original incarnation of the machine did not sell well due to several design and technical limitations. In this episode we discuss the significance of the original Macintosh, its ethos, and its limitations. Show Notes Episode 21: How have UIs Evolved? Episode 22: Why was the IBM PC a Big Deal? Episode 16: The Personal Computer Revolution Apple's 1984 Super Bowl Commercial to Launch the Mac via YouTube Xerox Alto via Wikipedia Apple Lisa via Wikipedia Macintosh 128K via Wikipedia Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Dec 28, 202021 min

Trailer

trailer

Each week we make a software-related technical topic intelligible. We aim to help you develop an intuitive understanding of each subject, instead of emphasizing formal definitions. Join us as we learn about the wide world of software. Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Find out more at http://kopec.live

Dec 25, 20200 min

Ep 28#28 Learning to Code

Are you thinking about learning computer programming? In this episode we provide some tips for aspiring programmers. What programming language should you choose? What learning resources should you use? How should you setup your environment? What are some good habits as you learn? What kind of mindset should you have? All of this and more tips for overcoming some early hurdles. Show Notes Episode 11: What is a Programming Language Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Dec 21, 202019 min

Ep 27#27 Databases

When software gets sufficiently complex it needs a database management system to store, structure, and query its records. In this episode we talk about what a database is, the models behind the most common kinds of databases, and some of the different use cases for each. We concentrate on relational databases, but we also discuss some so-called "NoSQL" databases including document-oriented databases, key-value stores, and graph databases. Along the way we learn a little history and about some of the concepts underlying relational databases including SQL and relational algebra. Show Notes Edgar Codd via Wikipedia Larry Ellison via Wikipedia Relational Algebra via Wikipedia Relational Databases via Wikipedia Episode 12: Open Source Software Oracle Database via Wikipedia MySQL via Wikipedia PostgreSQL via Wikipedia SQLite via Wikipedia NoSQL via Wikipedia MongoDB via Wikipedia Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Dec 14, 202021 min

Ep 26#26 Napster

Napster was the first popular peer-to-peer file sharing service. It introduced a generation to MP3 files and digitally swapping music. Created in 1999 by two teenagers, Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker, Napster would go on to upend the music industry and kickstart the online music revolution. But its success would be short lived. The first incarnation of Napster was forced into bankruptcy by legal challenges just a couple of years after its birth. In this episode we discuss Napster's origin, its importance, and the technologies that enabled it to work. Show Notes Napster via Wikipedia Shawn Fanning via Wikipedia Sean Parker via Wikipedia Ali Aydar via Twitter Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Dec 7, 202020 min

Ep 25#25 Spreadsheets

We take spreadsheets for granted, but they were actually an incredible innovation that transformed small business. In this episode we talk about the history of spreadsheets and why they are so important. We cover the first popular spreadsheet program, VisiCalc, which was the "killer app" for the Apple II. Then we talk about Lotus 1-2-3 and why it displaced VisiCalc. We finish with Microsoft Excel and areas where spreadsheets are being stretched too thin. Show Notes Episode 16: The Personal Computer Revolution VisiCalc via Wikipedia Episode 22: Why was the IBM PC a Big Deal? Lotus 1-2-3 via Wikipedia Founders at Work by Jessica Livingston via Amazon Episode 21: How have UIs Evolved? Microsoft Excel via Wikipedia Excel: Why using Microsoft's tool caused Covid-19 results to be lost via BBC Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Nov 30, 202023 min

Ep 24#24 The Browser Wars

Throughout the three decade history of the Web various browsers have battled for supremacy. In the 1990s it was Netscape Navigator versus Microsoft Internet Explorer. More recently, Google Chrome has dominated Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Apple's Safari. In this episode we dive into the history of the browser wars. We look at the various periods of web browser development, and identify how one browser's success or failure led to the rise of another. Ultimately we find connections that link every popular browser to every other. Show Notes Episode 6: How does the Web work? Tim Berners-Lee via Wikipedia WorldWideWeb via Wikipedia Mosaic via Wikipedia Marc Andreessen via Wikipedia Netscape Navigator via Wikipedia Spyglass Inc. via Wikipedia Internet Explorer via Wikipedia WebKit via Wikipedia Blink via Wikipedia Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Nov 23, 202027 min

Ep 23#23 The Mac's Instruction Set Architecture Transitions

Apple is transitioning the Mac from Intel's X86-64 based microprocessors to its own Apple Silicon built on the ARM64 instruction set. But the Mac has already been through two other similar transitions! In this episode we discuss the transitions and how they affect software. We delve into the 1994 transition from the Motorola 68K line to the Motorola/IBM PowerPC, and the 2006 transition from PowerPC to Intel. Finally, we talk about going from Intel to Apple Silicon. Along the way we discuss mitigation strategies for software developers like universal binaries and emulation. Show Notes Episode 10: What is an Emulator? Motorola 68K via Wikipedia PowerPC via Wikipedia x86 via Wikipedia ARM architecture via Wikipedia Apple Silicon via Wikipedia Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Nov 16, 202027 min

Ep 22#22 Why was the IBM PC a Big Deal?

The IBM PC, released in 1981, set the standard for personal computing for decades. In this episode we discuss why it was so influential. We talk about IBM's market position and strategy for the PC, as well as choices the company made in terms of both hardware and software that made a standard possible. We discuss Microsoft's role in creating DOS, CP/M's failure, and how PC compatible clones worked. This episode is a follow-up to episode 16, The Personal Computer Revolution, in which we covered the period of 1975-1980 in personal computer history. Show Notes Episode 16: The Personal Computer Revolution The IBM PC via Wikipedia Intel 8088 via Wikipedia CP/M via Wikipedia DOS via Wikipedia Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Nov 9, 202021 min

Ep 21#21 How have UIs Evolved?

Through the history of computing, user interfaces (UIs) have evolved from punch cards to voice interaction. In this episode we track that evolution, discussing each paradigm and the machine that popularized it. We primarily focus on personal computer UIs, covering command-line interfaces (CLIs), graphical user interfaces (GUIs), touch-screen interaction, and voice interfaces. We also imagine the future, including neural interfaces, virtual reality, and augmented reality. This episode is an introductory guide to the interfaces available and a short history, not a comprehensive tour. Show Notes Episode 16: The Personal Computer Revolution The Mother of All Demos via Wikipedia Fingerworks (developer of modern multi-touch) via Wikipedia Neuralink via Wikipedia Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Nov 2, 202023 min

Ep 20#20 How do Digital Images Work?

Digital images can be broadly categorized into two kinds: bitmap and vector. In this episode we provide the listener a general understanding of how both bitmap and vector images work. We start with the basics, by explaining pixels, but then we talk about a standard color model, and some specific file formats that most people are familiar with. We finish our discussion by talking about smartphone cameras, image manipulation software, and how images work together to make videos. Note: In this episode we used the term "graphics card" generically. We could have more accurately said Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) to include embedded GPUs as exist in most devices. Show Notes Episode 3: What is a Byte? Pixel via Wikipedia RGBA via Wikipedia JPEG via Wikipedia SVG via Wikipedia Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Oct 26, 202023 min

Ep 19#19 What is Linux?

Linux is the foundational piece of software in the majority of computing systems in use today, including most Internet servers, Internet-of-Things devices, and all Android smartphones/tablets. Yet, despite being ubiquitous, most people don't really know what it is. In this episode, we build on our prior episodes about Operating Systems and Open Source Software to give listeners an overview of Linux's origins, how it became ubiquitous, and where it's being used today. We get into the two different ways the term "Linux" is used: including as a way to refer to the ubiquitous kernel and as a short-hand for whole operating systems that are more accurately called "Linux distributions." Show Notes Episode 2: What is an Operating System? Episode 12: Open Source Software Linux via Wikipedia Linus Torvalds via Wikipedia Just for Fun via Amazon Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Oct 19, 202021 min

Ep 18#18 How does Email Work?

Email is the most important communications technology of our time. In this episode we explain how it works behind the scenes. We talk about how email clients talk to email servers, including protocols like SMTP, IMAP, and POP3. We discuss email's format, security, and ecosystem. We touch on spam filters, and end with a call-to-arms about keeping the email ecosystem open. Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Oct 12, 202023 min

Ep 17#17 What Is Encryption?

Encryption enables online payment, secure communication, identity verification, and so much more. In this episode we discuss what encryption is, what it does for us, and we go over some of the different types of encryption. We explain the purpose of a key, and try to provide an intuitive understanding of public key cryptography. We also discuss some practical tips around passwords. Finally, we talk about some of the public policy debates surrounding encryption. Note that in this episode we refer to cryptographic hash functions as "one-way encryption" to try to simplify the discussion. Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Oct 5, 202025 min

Ep 16#16 The Personal Computer Revolution

In 1975, the Altair 8800 powered by the Intel 8080 ignited the personal computer revolution. In this episode, we discuss the pivotal forces that made computers accessible to normal people, and enabled the creation of companies like Microsoft and Apple. We discuss some of the major computers of the late 1970s and some of the important software products. We cover the period of 1975-1980. This episode is not meant to be an exhaustive history, but instead a good general overview. We couldn’t cover every computer, software product, or important person in the PC revolution. But we hope we excited listeners to explore more. Show Links Intel 8080 MOS 6502 Zilog Z80 Altair 8800 Atari 2600 Microsoft BASIC CP/M Visicalc Apple I Apple II Commodore PET TRS-80 IBM PC Bill Gates Paul Allen Gary Kildall Steve Wozniak Steve Jobs Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Sep 28, 202024 min

Ep 15#15 Product Managers with David Short

Product managers manage the teams that build software. In this episode we interview David Short, whose been a product manager for software teams at multiple companies. He tells us what it’s like to be a product manager, how he works together with software developers, and David gives some advice for aspiring product managers. Show Links David Short on Twitter Products and Payments (David's blog) Business Books and Co. (David & David's other podcast) Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Sep 21, 202027 min

Ep 14#14 Computer Chess

Since the invention of the modern computer, humans have been trying to write chess playing programs. In this episode, we trace the history of computer chess, and explain how a chess program works. We discuss why developing a world champion computer chess AI was considered a great achievement. And we finish with how computer chess continues to evolve, and how it’s evolving human chess. Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Sep 14, 202034 min

Ep 13#13 Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is enabling exciting new computing applications, but many people don’t really understand what it is. In this episode we give AI a broad definition, explain the difference between strong AI and weak AI, and delve into some of the many sub-disciplines that fall under its umbrella. We provide a general sense of machine learning by touching on a few of its approaches including artificial neural networks, clustering, and linear regression. We also briefly dive into older AI techniques like expert systems and adversarial search. We use chess as an example to talk about different AI approaches. Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Sep 7, 202031 min

Ep 12#12 Open Source Software

The open source movement has completely changed the software industry. In this episode we explain what it means for software to be open source. We dive into the origins of the movement, its split from the free software movement, and some of its key players. We explain the four freedoms, the legal model behind open source licenses, and some of the ethics. Most importantly, we explain the benefits of open source software, and why it has become so ubiquitous. At the end we dive into other areas of the world where the open source model is being introduced. Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Aug 31, 202033 min

Ep 11#11 What is a Programming Language?

Programming languages are what we use to communicate ideas in computing. Software is written in a programming language and most people have a vague sense of what a programming language looks like. In this episode we explain a programming language’s purpose and we categorize programming languages into various paradigms. We discuss some of the characteristics that make one programming language distinctive from another. At the end we dispense some advice for those interested in learning their first programming language. Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Aug 24, 202030 min

Ep 10#10 What is an Emulator?

Emulators allow software designed for one computing system to run on another. They act as a kind of translation layer, simulating the hardware of the emulated system in software. Common applications include running software designed for video game systems on personal computers, and running business applications designed for a computing platform that the user doesn’t own. We discuss what emulators do, how they work, and some of the legal issues around them in this episode. Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Aug 17, 202023 min

Ep 9#9 What Does it Take to Make an App?

We discuss what it takes to make a mobile app. What are the primary different kinds of jobs that people who work on apps have? What are the phases of the development cycle to go from idea to release? How hard is it to make an app? We left our talking about one role: product managers/project managers who may facilitate the whole process and we’ll cover them in a future episode. Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Aug 10, 202021 min

Ep 8#8 How do Web Search Engines Work?

Information on the Web is always at our fingertips thanks to search engines. But, what makes them tick? In this episode we go over crawling, indexing, and ranking, the three phases a web page must go through to end up in your search results. We briefly discuss the PageRank algorithm and differences between various search engines. We conclude by discussing privacy issues. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Aug 3, 202033 min

Ep 7#7 What is a Character Encoding?

Computers are not just great for calculating, they’re also great for storing, manipulating, and viewing text. In fact, the majority of the work we do on a computer is “text work.” But, how does a computer actually store text? How is text represented in software? In this episode we dive into the world of character encodings, the way that software represents text. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Jul 27, 202023 min

Ep 6#6 How does the Web work?

What are the technologies that underly the Web? We discuss Web Browsers and Web Servers. We touch on: the protocols they use to communicate (HTTP and HTTPS), the languages they use to render web pages (HTML, CSS, JavaScript), and server-side technologies like databases and server-side programming languages. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, [CC BY 4.0] (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Find out more at http://kopec.live

Jul 20, 202022 min

Ep 5#5 How does the Internet work?

The Internet is not a single technology—it’s a combination of networking technologies including protocols, physical devices, and software. In this episode we delve into its many layers and try to provide an intuitive understanding about how they all fit together. We cover topics like routing, packets, application protocols, and encryption. Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, [CC BY 4.0] (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Find out more at http://kopec.live

Jul 13, 202029 min

Ep 4#4 iOS vs. Android

iOS vs. Android In this episode we discuss the similarities and differences between iOS and Android. We delve into their history, business models, developer ecosystems, and user experiences. Does it really matter if you use iOS or Android? Listen to this episode and find out. David Kopec on Twitter Theme “Place on Fire”, Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Jul 6, 202036 min

Ep 3#3 What is a Byte?

What is a Byte? What is a Byte? In this episode we go down to the fundamentals and explain how data is represented in a computer. We discuss what a bit is, both at the hardware level and the software level. Then we discuss other terms like kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, and terabyte. We give various examples of real world files and their storage needs. Finally, we talk about the evolution of microprocessors from 8-bit to 64-bit. David Kopec on Twitter Theme “Place on Fire”, Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Jun 29, 202020 min

Ep 2#2 What is an Operating System?

What is an Operating System? This week we discuss the most essential layer of a computer’s software, the operating system. We describe what an operating system is. We denote the differences between popular operating systems. The varying operating system business models are described. And we talk about why operating systems are important. David Kopec on Twitter Theme “Place on Fire”, Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Jun 22, 202029 min

Ep 1#1 What is Software?

What is Software? We define software. What is software? How is it different than hardware? What is the language of software? What are the different kinds of software? Who makes software? How do they make it? David Kopec on Twitter Theme “Place on Fire”, Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0 Find out more at http://kopec.live

Jun 15, 202031 min