"This entire 20-chapter computer science textbook was created in a single extended session through human-AI collaboration. I provided the vision and structure—a complete CS education from counting in
binary to securing Unix systems—while Claude (Anthropic's AI assistant) generated the detailed content, working code examples, and exercises.
What's remarkable is the consistency and depth achieved in one continuous writing session. Each chapter maintains the same pedagogical approach: theory explained clearly, followed by working
implementations in appropriate languages (C for systems programming, Python for algorithms, Assembly for low-level concepts), and practical exercises. The AI didn't just regurgitate textbook
material—it created cohesive explanations that build naturally from fundamentals to advanced topics, with over 500 working code examples that actually demonstrate the concepts rather than just
describing them.
The goal was to democratize computer science education by creating a resource equivalent to a full CS degree that anyone can access for free. The speed of creation (one session) contrasts with the
depth of content (1000+ pages), showing how AI can help make quality education more accessible while maintaining the rigor and completeness that learners deserve." -- Claude
al2o3cr · 9h ago
This isn't a "book", it's a series of slides without the speaker notes.
For instance, the section on Karnaugh maps says "yep, this is a Karnaugh map" and presents a single vague example without explanation:
One of the exercises in that same chapter (exercise 12) asks the reader to write Verilog code after being shown a grand total of SIX LINES OF VERILOG, counting module/endmodule.
The only way this material would be useful to a student is with a real textbook alongside.
it created cohesive explanations that build naturally from fundamentals to advanced topics
There weren't any explanations to even EVALUATE for coherence in the chapter I read through. Also, most chapters I skimmed were code blocks interspersed with headers. Claude is hallucinating again.
davydm · 10h ago
LLMs blow smoke up your ass. The real test is a full editorial check to find all the bullshit it hallucinated.
For instance, the section on Karnaugh maps says "yep, this is a Karnaugh map" and presents a single vague example without explanation:
https://github.com/cloudstreet-dev/Computers/blob/main/chapt...
One of the exercises in that same chapter (exercise 12) asks the reader to write Verilog code after being shown a grand total of SIX LINES OF VERILOG, counting module/endmodule.
The only way this material would be useful to a student is with a real textbook alongside.
There weren't any explanations to even EVALUATE for coherence in the chapter I read through. Also, most chapters I skimmed were code blocks interspersed with headers. Claude is hallucinating again.