When we code programs, hardware is often the last thing
we think about. After all, we have
intuitive compilers
to handle system translations for us. They can even check our
errors for free. Plus, if our computers run the programs
perfectly, then there’s no need to think about how they do
it.
However, this couldn’t be further from the
truth. Here’s why software engineers need at least basic
hardware knowledge.
It allows you to create better programs
A lot of software engineers can get away without understanding
hardware language, again, with the help of compilers. But
compilers aren’t perfect. If they find that an optimization
you want could meddle with existing cases,
they won’t process it. For example, even if four integer operations can be
performed in one CPU core simultaneously, your compiler might
not maximize the resources available. Instead, they’ll just
run the load data or integer ALU, severely slowing down your
computing time. Sometimes, they’ll even ignore the request.
As
such, it’s your job as a software engineer to ensure that your
projects are accomplished efficiently. But converting source
code requires knowledge of computing systems, making the
latter essential.
It lets you know when it’s time to upgrade
Knowing how computers work will allow you to better understand
what components you need to optimize your processes. In this
case, there are two things you should familiarize yourself
with: the CPU and the motherboard.
The CPU
determines
how many processes
you can run at a time and how heavy they can be. For example,
if you run 40 processes at a time, you might need a CPU with
16 threads. Then there’s the motherboard — a type of
modern PCB
that embeds all its components on a single, flat structure.
Knowing what slots it contains and how they’re connected will let you know if a motherboard is a good fit for your CPU. A DDR4 memory-enabled board like the PRIME H270M, for instance, might be good for a high-thread CPU. Of course, the right parts for you depend on what you need — which you’ll only know with sufficient knowledge of computer parts.
It opens the door for more job opportunities
Software development isn’t just limited to webpages, mobile
applications, and other device-native programs. It can also
extend to embedded systems, operating systems, assembly
systems, and other hardware-related fields. Even the compilers
you rely on so much were made by a software engineer
proficient with computing systems. Therefore, familiarizing
yourself with hardware and its languages will open your doors
to a ton of opportunities that you may have never gotten the
chance to work on.
If you want to become a better
software engineer, consider broadening your hardware
knowledge. You don’t need to go very in-depth, especially if
it’s your first time. Focus on the basics, like computer
architecture and assembly languages. Eventually, you can start
looking into schematics and hardware programming tools like
Rust.
For more software development guides, be sure to check out some of the other posts on the blog.
This post was written by Connie Campbell.
Connie Campbell may be a tech writer during the day, but she’s an avid student at night. Double majoring in Computer Science, Connie has big dreams of starting her own SaaS business one day with help from her older brother.