The Computer Boys Take Over

The Computer Boys Take Over traces the emergence and evolution of computer programming as a profession from the 1950s through the 1970s. Through historical records and first-hand accounts, Ensmenger documents the rise of programmers from their origins as low-status technical workers to their establishment as essential knowledge workers in the corporate world. The book examines the challenges organizations faced in managing this new breed of employee and the struggles to define programming as either an art or a science. It details the development of programming tools, methodologies, and professional standards as the field matured and computing became central to business operations. The narrative follows the industry's attempts to address persistent problems like the chronic shortage of qualified programmers, the high turnover rate, and the failures of major software projects. Ensmenger explores the gender dynamics of the profession, tracking how programming transformed from a female-dominated occupation to a male-dominated field. At its core, this work reveals how the social and organizational aspects of computing proved as crucial as the technical challenges in shaping modern digital society. The tensions between programmers' professional aspirations and management's desire for control continue to influence software development culture today.

Readers describe this book as a detailed look at programming's early history with a focus on labor and professional identity rather than technical breakthroughs. What readers liked: - Deep research into primary sources and archival materials - Focus on social/organizational aspects over technical details - Coverage of gender dynamics in early computing - Clear writing style accessible to non-technical readers What readers disliked: - Some repetition between chapters - Limited coverage of developments after 1970s - Academic tone can feel dry in places - Narrow geographic focus on US companies Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (12 ratings) Review quotes: "Fills an important gap in computing history by examining the human side rather than just the machines." - Goodreads reviewer "Sometimes gets bogged down in academic language but provides valuable insights into how programming became a male-dominated profession." - Amazon reviewer

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🔹 The term "computer boys" was commonly used in the 1960s as a somewhat derogatory term for male programmers, who were often viewed as arrogant and antisocial by business management. 🔹 Early computer programming was initially considered "women's work" and was dominated by female programmers until the mid-1960s, when the field began to shift dramatically toward male employees. 🔹 Author Nathan Ensmenger teaches at Indiana University's School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, and has extensively researched how computing transformed from a scientific tool to a business necessity. 🔹 The book reveals how personality tests, including the IBM Programmer Aptitude Test (PAT), were widely used in the 1960s to identify potential programmers, despite having little scientific validity. 🔹 During the 1950s and early 1960s, the cost of programmers' salaries often exceeded the cost of the actual computer hardware, leading to what was known as the "software crisis."