The Annotated Turing

Charles Petzold2008book

Selected reading: A simple transition table and worked machine trace.

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How to study this source

  • What can a machine compute?

    criticismA simple transition table and worked machine trace

    Use a worked explanation to follow the original machine model before reading its formal argument.

Ideas and questions

Read background definitions when a term blocks the argument. Then return to the source and reconstruct its claim in your own words.

Read alongside, read against

  • Computational Complexity

    Christos Papadimitriou. Compare assumptions, evidence and scope with the source above. These are editorial companions, not necessarily direct responses.

  • Introduction to the Theory of Computation

    Michael Sipser. Compare assumptions, evidence and scope with the source above. These are editorial companions, not necessarily direct responses.

  • A New Kind of Science

    Stephen Wolfram. Compare assumptions, evidence and scope with the source above. These are editorial companions, not necessarily direct responses.

  • An Introduction to Kolmogorov Complexity

    Li · Vitányi. Compare assumptions, evidence and scope with the source above. These are editorial companions, not necessarily direct responses.

  • Gödel, Escher, Bach

    Douglas Hofstadter. Compare assumptions, evidence and scope with the source above. These are editorial companions, not necessarily direct responses.