Programming languages, from the ground up
Start with the fundamentals.
See what happens underneath.
Explore variables, memory, functions, and runtimes. Learn the language's rules, follow what your code does, and compare the ideas across languages.
Primerian is being written in the open. See what's drafted so far
Seven ways to deepen your understanding.
Learn the rules, explore the runtime, put numbers to work, follow the request, secure what you build, and ship something useful.
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Fundamentals
Learn the rules behind values, calls, types, and errors. Follow the shared questions through each language’s own behavior.
Reading a program · Values, names, and variables · Bits, numbers, and textExplore fundamentals authoring -
Runtimes
Follow source into execution, meet the machine and operating system, inspect memory and evaluation, and understand the machinery that schedules your code.
The machine underneath · Building and loading a program · Your program and the operating systemExplore runtimes authoring -
Math
Use math to make software behavior, measurements, and engineering trade-offs easier to reason about: units, probability, statistics, and the models behind AI.
Quantities and representation · Change, uncertainty, and evidence · Math in engineering decisionsExplore math authoring -
Networking
Understand how data reaches a service, what can interrupt the path, and how to find out why.
Networking foundations · Network design and protocols · Operations and troubleshootingExplore networking authoring -
Security
Practical security for people who build software: protect data, enforce access, and ship changes with confidence.
Security mindset and core vocabulary · Threat modeling and secure design · Web and API trust boundariesExplore security authoring -
Software Craft
Build evidence for what your code does. Debug failures, test assumptions, design useful contracts, and improve behavior with measurements.
Tools and everyday workflow · Debugging with evidence · Tests, properties, and repeatabilityExplore craft authoring -
Application Building
Combine language fundamentals in small, complete programs. Follow data through configuration, files, HTTP, storage, and concurrent work.
CLI tools and configuration · Files and external data · HTTP clients and small serversExplore applications authoring
A small question. A deeper understanding.
Clear explanations, visual models, and experiments you can run.
01 / Ask
Start with something concrete.
What does this variable hold? What gets passed into a function? Make a prediction.
02 / Follow
Look beneath the code.
Step through the values, calls, and boundaries. Separate the language's rules from the diagram's model.
03 / Try
Change it. Explain it.
Run a different case, then compare how another language handles the same idea.
Still taking shape
Understand the foundations. Build on them.
Primerian gives you the language and execution foundations for Heyrian's patterns, algorithms, and architecture lessons. Every lesson here is a draft under review: open to read, and still changing.
Start with Declaration and initialization, then follow Assignment and reassignment, or browse the whole catalog.