EPOCH © 2025 by Stéphane Fosse - This book is published under the terms of the CC BY-SA 4.0 license

About the Book

EPOCH traces the history of computing through 350 technologies, from punch cards to generative AI (1703-2025).

Each technology is explained in its context: what problem did it need to solve? What constraints guided its design? How does it fit into the overall evolution?

This book allows you to understand why our current systems are structured the way they are, and to have an overview that few professionals possess.

Start Now

Digital Version (Free)

Immediate download • No registration required

Download PDF

Download EPUB

Paperback Version

Format 6 × 9 in • 760 pages • Paperback

💡 Browse the digital version first, then decide if you want the paperback format.

Buy EPOCH on Lulu

Buy EPOCH on Amazon

Table of Contents

English translation produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence and revised by the author.

Why a Free Book?

By publishing EPOCH under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license, I want to promote knowledge sharing and allow everyone free access to the history of computing. This choice is part of a free culture and knowledge sharing approach.

You are free to copy, distribute, modify and adapt this book, including for commercial purposes, provided you credit me as the author and share your modifications under the same license.

Support the Project

EPOCH represents 5 years of research and over 3,750 documents analyzed. This work is published under a free license to be accessible to everyone.

You can support this project in three ways:

• Download for free and share with others;
• Order the paperback version to get a beautiful object;
• Make a donation to support the creation of free content.