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Best History of computing videos, as recommended on Hacker News

188 videos about history of computing that Hacker News commenters keep recommending, mentioned between 2007 and 2026. Mostly demo, documentary, talk. Channels that come up most: Computer History Museum, TheTedNelson, CuriousMarc, AT&T Tech Channel. Sorted by how consistently HN recommended them over the years.

The most recommended is AT&T Archives: Similiarities of Wave Behavior (Bonus Edition): HN repeatedly calls it the clearest introduction to waves and transmission-line behavior, better than modern explainers.

• lectureAT&T Archives: Similiarities of Wave Behavior (Bonus Edition)AT&T Tech Channel · 12 HN recommenders · 2014–2026
• documentaryMicro Men - 720p (2009)gimpymoo · 15 HN recommenders · 2015–2026
• lectureLight Years Ahead | The 1969 Apollo Guidance ComputerTNMoC · 11 HN recommenders · 2021–2026
• documentaryMechanical Computer (All Parts) - Basic Mechanisms In Fire Control ComputersExcelsior10000 · 13 HN recommenders · 2014–2025
• documentaryProject Code Rush - The Beginnings of Netscape / Mozilla DocumentaryThe Documentary Network · 13 HN recommenders · 2015–2026
• talkBret Victor The Future of ProgrammingJoey Reid · 12 HN recommenders · 2017–2026
• talkAlan Kay - Normal Considered Harmfulpowerfuloutlet · 10 HN recommenders · 2012–2026
• interviewVCF East: Ken Thompson interviewed by Brian KernighanVintage Computer Federation · 11 HN recommenders · 2019–2025
• tutorialU.S. NAVY BASIC MECHANISMS OF FIRE CONTROL COMPUTERS MECHANICAL COMPUTER INSTRUCTIONAL FILM 27794PeriscopeFilm · 11 HN recommenders · 2018–2026
• demoAlan Kay's tribute to Ted Nelson at "Intertwingled" FestivalTheTedNelson · 7 HN recommenders · 2016–2025
• demoThe Mother of All Demos, presented by Douglas Engelbart (1968)Marcel · 8 HN recommenders · 2013–2026
• documentaryAT&T Archives: The UNIX Operating SystemAT&T Tech Channel · 10 HN recommenders · 2013–2026
• talk34C3 - The Ultimate Apollo Guidance Computer Talkmedia.ccc.de · 9 HN recommenders · 2018–2025
• talkAlan Kay, 2015: Power of SimplicityKenneth Friedman · 6 HN recommenders · 2015–2025
• explainerUnix and GoogleFOAM · 4 HN recommenders · 2016–2023
• documentaryApollo Guidance Computer Part 1: Restoring the computer that put man on the MoonCuriousMarc · 8 HN recommenders · 2019–2024
• explainer(1/4) Intro/History: Introducing a 100-year-old mechanical computerengineerguy · 6 HN recommenders · 2015–2023
• lectureSecret History of Silicon ValleyComputer History Museum · 6 HN recommenders · 2010–2026
• lectureHow to Invent the Future I - Stanford CS183F: Startup SchoolStanford Online · 3 HN recommenders · 2018–2024
• documentaryJames Burke Connections, Ep. 4 "Faith in Numbers"DRS_Education · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2026
• documentaryBuilding The World's First Computer - Greeks, Clocks and Rockets - Antikythera Mechanism Episode 1Clickspring · 7 HN recommenders · 2018–2024
• demoEric Bier Demonstrates CedarComputer History Museum · 3 HN recommenders · 2020–2025
• lectureHow to Invent the Future II - Stanford CS183F: Startup SchoolStanford Online · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2024
• demoUsing a 1930 Teletype as a Linux TerminalCuriousMarc · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2025
• demoIvan Sutherland Sketchpad Demo 1963Interface Studies · 5 HN recommenders · 2016–2025
• explainerMouse Cursor History (and why I made my own)Posy · 4 HN recommenders · 2022–2026
• talkThe Web That Never Was - Dylan BeattieNDC Conferences · 3 HN recommenders · 2023–2026
• lectureAdmiral Grace Hopper Explains the Nanosecondfunbury · 5 HN recommenders · 2020–2025
• demoTed Nelson demonstrates Xanadu Spacephotonhunter · 5 HN recommenders · 2011–2022
• talk2 1 1 Jason Scott Rescuing The Prince of Persia from the sands of timeAdrian Crenshaw · 3 HN recommenders · 2014–2026
• explainerThe Most Powerful Computers You've Never Heard OfVeritasium · 6 HN recommenders · 2021–2025
• documentaryUNIX: Making Computers Easier To Use -- AT&T Archives film from 1982, Bell LaboratoriesAT&T Tech Channel · 6 HN recommenders · 2015–2024
• explainerIBM Selectric Typewriter & its digital to analogue converterengineerguy · 4 HN recommenders · 2016–2025
• documentaryMiniDisc - An AppreciationTechmoan · 5 HN recommenders · 2019–2023
• demoSymbolics Lisp Machine demo Jan 2013Kalman Reti · 5 HN recommenders · 2014–2024
• interviewAvie Tevanian: CMU math whiz goes from Mach to NeXT to Apple Software Chief | Oral History Part 1Computer History Museum · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2024
• documentaryGET LAMP: The Text Adventure DocumentaryGoogle TechTalks · 5 HN recommenders · 2014–2026
• documentaryDoomed: The Embers of Amiga FPSAhoy · 4 HN recommenders · 2015–2017
• explainerHow an Atomic Clock Really Works: Inside the HP 5061A Cesium ClockCuriousMarc · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2026
• documentaryBBS The Documentary: Episode 1 of 8: BAUD (The Beginning)Jason Scott · 4 HN recommenders · 2019–2025
• documentaryJames Burke Legend Connections 1 The Trigger EffectTim Callinan · 4 HN recommenders · 2022–2026
• talk"A Political History of X" - Keith Packard (LCA 2020)linux.conf.au · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2025
• demoSYMBOLICS S-PACKAGES 3D GRAPHICS AND ANIMATION DEMORed Martian · 4 HN recommenders · 2014–2026
• demoAlto System Project: Dan Ingalls demonstrates SmalltalkComputer History Museum · 3 HN recommenders · 2020–2025
• talkJoe Armstrong - Keynote: The Forgotten Ideas in Computer Science - Code BEAM SF 2018Code Sync · 4 HN recommenders · 2018–2022
• talkKeynote: Begin...End?David Beazley · 3 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
• explainerFlaw in the Enigma Code - NumberphileNumberphile · 4 HN recommenders · 2013–2025
• demoAPL demonstration 1975Imperial College London · 5 HN recommenders · 2014–2021
• lectureColossus - The Greatest Secret in the History of ComputingThe Centre for Computing History · 3 HN recommenders · 2022–2024
• explainerXanadu Basics 1a - VISIBLE CONNECTIONTheTedNelson · 3 HN recommenders · 2018–2021
• talkARCHIVE TEAM: A Distributed Preservation of Service Attacktextfilesdotcom · 3 HN recommenders · 2014–2016
• documentaryThe REAL Story On Why Space Cadet Pinball Was Removed (ft. Windows on Itanium)NCommander · 4 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
• demoSketchpad, by Dr. Ivan Sutherland with comments by Alan KayDavid Carroll · 3 HN recommenders · 2013–2024
• interviewTed Nelson in Herzog's "Lo and Behold"TheTedNelson · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2022
• documentaryBirth of BASICDartmouth · 3 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
• otherHalt and Catch Fire - Sales Call [ "A16" Scene ]c102030 · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2026
• lectureSeymour Papert 1983Cynthia Solomon · 3 HN recommenders · 2014–2017
• talkA Narrative History of BSD, Dr. Kirk McKusickbsdconferences · 3 HN recommenders · 2013–2017
• interviewMorris Chang, in conversation with Jen-Hsun HuangComputer History Museum · 3 HN recommenders · 2012–2023
• interviewThe Mind Behind Windows: Dave CutlerDave's Garage · 4 HN recommenders · 2023–2026
• demoErlang: The Movie (Fixed Audio)CH1LLW4VE · 2 HN recommenders · 2019–2021
• talk"Uptime 15,364 days - The Computers of Voyager" by Aaron CummingsStrange Loop Conference · 3 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
• commentaryComputers for Cynics 0 - The Myth of TechnologyTheTedNelson · 3 HN recommenders · 2013–2024
• talk50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAHUniversity of Utah · 2 HN recommenders · 2023–2024
• documentaryThe KGB, the Computer, and Me.DragonFartOutLoud · 3 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
• documentaryEdsger W. Dijkstra on Dutch TVYin Wang · 2 HN recommenders · 2015–2020
• explainerCracking Enigma in 2021 - ComputerphileComputerphile · 3 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
• documentaryThe Computer Chronicles - Gary Kildall Special (1995)The Computer Chronicles · 3 HN recommenders · 2015–2022
• talkJoe Armstrong & Jeremy Ruston - Intertwingling the Tiddlywiki with Erlang | Code Mesh LDN 18Code Sync · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
• documentaryBirth of The Transistor: A video history of Japan's electronic industry. (Part 1)RC286 · 3 HN recommenders · 2018–2022
• demoLotus Improv for NeXT 1990Thierry Hubert · 1 HN recommender · 2022–2026
• talkComputer Science - A Guide for the Perplexed • Joe Armstrong • GOTO 2018GOTO Conferences · 3 HN recommenders · 2019–2021
• documentarySeymour PapertSeth Morabito · 3 HN recommenders · 2014–2017
• interview3dfx Oral History Panel with Ross Smith, Scott Sellers, Gary Tarolli, and Gordon CampbellComputer History Museum · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2023
• documentaryPart 1 - Training Video for Bell Labs' Holmdel Computing Center - AT&T ArchivesAT&T Tech Channel · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2024
• explainerThe Computer-free Automation of a Jukebox (Electromechanics)Technology Connections · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2021
• demoSelf: The Movie;Jecel Assumpção Jr · 2 HN recommenders · 2013–2024
• talkDEF CON 18 - Jason Scott - You're Stealing It Wrong! 30 Years of Inter-Pirate BattlesDEFCONConference · 2 HN recommenders · 2014–2025
• demoAlan Kay Demos GRaILVincent Gable · 2 HN recommenders · 2016–2025
• interviewOral History of Donald Knuth Part 1Computer History Museum · 2 HN recommenders · 2019–2022
• documentaryBBS The.Documentary Part 4 - Fidonetbbsers · 2 HN recommenders · 2014–2019
• talk"How to Think about Parallel Programming: Not!" - Guy L. Steele Jr. (Strange Loop 2010)Strange Loop Conference · 2 HN recommenders · 2022–2024
• documentaryApollo Core Rope Memory (Apollo Guidance Computer Part 30)CuriousMarc · 2 HN recommenders · 2023–2026
• talkHere I Stand, at Age 80TheTedNelson · 2 HN recommenders · 2017–2019
• documentaryGENERAL MAGIC - Official TrailerGeneral Magic and the Soul of Tech · 2 HN recommenders · 2021–2025
• talkThe Charming Genius of the Apollo Guidance Computer - Brian TroutwineErlang Solutions · 2 HN recommenders · 2015–2019
• interviewSusan Kare explains Macintosh UI ergonomics on the Computer Chronicles (1984)erg0steur · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2022
• demoLyle Bickley explains the PDP-1 (and we play the original Spacewar!)CuriousMarc · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2020
• interviewOral History of Dave Cutler Part 1Computer History Museum · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
• demoLisp Editing in the 80s - Interlisp SEditthoughtupquick · 2 HN recommenders · 2019–2021
• talkHere's What Happens When an 18 Year Old Buys a MainframeSHARE Association · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2025
• lectureNeWS: A Networked and Extensible Window System, lecture by James GoslingComputer History Museum · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
• interviewThe Origins of APL - 1974Catherine Lathwell · 2 HN recommenders · 2012–2026
• explainerThis 1970s tank simulator drives through a tiny worldTom Scott · 2 HN recommenders · 2024–2025
• demoBeOS DEMO VIDEOkoyhoge · 2 HN recommenders · 2012–2022
• interviewThe Great 202 Jailbreak - ComputerphileComputerphile · 2 HN recommenders · 2015–2024
• documentaryThe KGB, the Computer, and Me (Complete)GBPPR2 · 2 HN recommenders · 2016–2019
• documentaryThe Computer Chronicles - Hypercard (1987)The Computer Chronicles · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2025
• explainerWhy Sony's Beta Videotape System Failed--and failed hard (Part 1)Technology Connections · 2 HN recommenders · 2022–2026
• documentaryGeneral Magic (1080p) FULL DOCUMENTARY - History, Technology, BusinessGravitas Documentaries · 3 HN recommenders · 2023–2026
• documentaryMaking of Second Reality / Future CrewMika Tuomi · 2 HN recommenders · 2011–2024
• documentaryThe Secret Life of the Radio - Remasteredtim hunkin · 2 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
• demoThe IBM 1401 mainframe runs "Edith"CuriousMarc · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2023
• interviewOral History of Gary Davidian, part 2 of 2Computer History Museum · 2 HN recommenders · 2022–2025
• documentaryCommodore 64—25th Anniversary CelebrationComputer History Museum · 2 HN recommenders · 2012–2016
• lectureSeminar with Alan Kay on Object Oriented Programming (VPRI 0246)Yoshiki Ohshima (大島芳樹) · 2 HN recommenders · 2017–2025
• explainerMENACE: the pile of matchboxes which can learnStand-up Maths · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2026
• otherRay Kurzweil on "I've Got a Secret"Sidewinder77 · 2 HN recommenders · 2012–2016
• demoSGI Indigo2: An $86,000 Workstation from 1995LGR · 2 HN recommenders · 2019–2024
• tutorialTeletype Model 19 - Part 1: A Teletype Arrives for RestorationCuriousMarc · 2 HN recommenders · 2019–2020
• documentarySpringboard: the secret history of the first real smartphone (Full Documentary)The Verge · 3 HN recommenders · 2022–2025
• interviewOral History of Chuck PeddleComputer History Museum · 2 HN recommenders · 2019–2024
• demoThe 3D-Printed Curta CalculatorAdam Savage’s Tested · 2 HN recommenders · 2017–2025
• explainerWhy is Japan So Weak in Software?Asianometry · 2 HN recommenders · 2024–2026
• documentaryBBS the Documentary [Full HD]L33T GUY · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2026
• demoLeap Technologyaamoviebb · 2 HN recommenders · 2014–2026
• demoAltair 8800 - Video #7.1 - Loading 4K BASIC with a Teletypederamp5113 · 2 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
• documentarySpeedy Cutover Service, SXS switching cutover to ESS filmed live at Glendale CA central office, 1984AT&T Tech Channel · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2025
• lectureCapt. Grace Hopper on Future Possibilities: Data, Hardware, Software, and People (Part One, 1982)National Security Agency · 2 HN recommenders · 2024–2026
• documentaryQuick Start, Episode 7: Crimes... And Felonies.Cathode Ray Dude - CRD · 2 HN recommenders · 2024–2026
• demoThe IBM 1401 compiles and runs FORTRAN IICuriousMarc · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2021
• demoChain of Fools : Upgrading through every version of windows (HQ)TheRasteri · 2 HN recommenders · 2011–2021
• explainerHold music used to sound better. Here's why.Tom Scott · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2023
• interviewMicro Men - 10th Anniversary - With Chris Curry, Steve Furber and Hermann HauserThe Centre for Computing History · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2025
• demoMegaprocessor Tour 1 - (fixed audio)Megaprocessor · 2 HN recommenders · 2016–2024
• talkSteve Jobs rare footage conducting a presentation on 1980 (Insanely Great)naji1234 · 1 HN recommender · 2012–2026
• documentaryDouglas Adams - HyperlandUJ ObscureMedia · 1 HN recommender · 2016–2020
• explainerAn astonishing old calculator - NumberphileNumberphile · 1 HN recommender · 2017–2023
• demoAlternate Reality Kit by Randall Smith at Xerox PARC 1986 (VPRI-0131)Yoshiki Ohshima (大島芳樹) · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2021
• interviewWhere GREP Came From - ComputerphileComputerphile · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2020
• documentaryThe CED: RCA's Very Late, Very Weird Video Gamble (Pt. 1)Technology Connections · 1 HN recommender · 2019–2025
• interviewTed Nelson struggles with uncomprehending radio interviewer, 1979TheTedNelson · 1 HN recommender · 2017–2024
• talkThe Computer Revolution Hasn't Happened Yet OOPSLA 97 Keynote (VPRI 0719)Yoshiki Ohshima (大島芳樹) · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2026
• interviewOral History of John BackusComputer History Museum · 1 HN recommender · 2019–2026
• talkSeymour Cray's Only Surviving Talk: "Cray-1 Introduction" (1976, LANL)UC Berkeley Events · 1 HN recommender · 2016–2026
• documentaryAmiga Story | Nostalgia NerdNostalgia Nerd · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2022
• explainerAT&T Archives: The Step-By-Step SwitchAT&T Tech Channel · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2023
• talkTed Nelson's Eulogy for Douglas EngelbartComputer History Museum · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2025
• demoAmiga Boing Ballamigang · 1 HN recommender · 2016–2026
• lectureThe Lighthill debate on Artificial Intelligence: "The general purpose robot is a mirage"Pierre-Yves Oudeyer · 1 HN recommender · 2019–2025
• interviewGrace Hopper on LettermanTheLazlo101 · 1 HN recommender · 2016–2018
• talkA Brief History of the BSD Fast Filesystem by Marshall Kirk McKusickEuroBSDCon · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2023
• talkSteve Jobs Introduces the MacintoshComputer History Museum · 1 HN recommender · 2016–2024
• demoAlto System Project: Larry Tesler demonstration of GypsyComputer History Museum · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2025
• talkPlan 9: Not dead, Just Resting, by Ori BernsteinBSDTV · 1 HN recommender · 2019–2024
• talkCharles Babbage and Difference Enginge No. 2 | Doron Swade | Talks at GoogleTalks at Google · 1 HN recommender · 2012–2022
• demoTRON Smart Houseuidcenter · 1 HN recommender · 2022–2026
• comedy"Silicon Valley Story" — a Very Short Romantic Comedy by Ted NelsonTheTedNelson · 1 HN recommender · 2017–2020
• tutorialSGI's $250,000 Graphics Supercomputer from 1993 - Silicon Graphics Onyx RealityEngine²Dodoid · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2024
• demoXerox Star User Interface (1982) 1 of 2VintageCG · 1 HN recommender · 2011–2024
• talkKirk McKusick - A Narrative History of BSDiX · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2025
• documentaryMacintosh FactoryMacGeneration · 1 HN recommender · 2016–2025
• interviewOral History of William David "Bill" Mensch Jr.Computer History Museum · 1 HN recommender · 2016–2021
• demoYesterday's Computer of Tomorrow: The Xerox Alto │Smalltalk-76 DemoComputer History Museum · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2025
• podcastBrian Kernighan: UNIX, C, AWK, AMPL, and Go Programming | Lex Fridman Podcast #109Lex Fridman · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2022
• talkSymbolicsTalk28June2012Mike Lambert · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2024
• interviewBill Atkinson: Polaroids showing the Evolution of the Lisa GUIComputer History Museum · 1 HN recommender · 2025–2026
• news1994: "Today Show": "What is the Internet, Anyway?"Chrissy Miklacic · 1 HN recommender · 2016–2022
• interviewDouglas Engelbart Interviewed by John Markoff of the New York TimesComputer History Museum · 1 HN recommender · 2014–2018
• explainerTypesetters in the '80s - ComputerphileComputerphile · 1 HN recommender · 2015–2020
• lectureGrace Hopper LectureMIT Lincoln Laboratory · 1 HN recommender · 2017–2026
• talkThe History of Unix, Rob PikeStephanie Borgman · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2021
• talkA History of The ARM Microprocessor | Dave Jaggar | Talks at GoogleTalks at Google · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2022
• demoDEC LAB-8/e (PDP-8/e) playing musicPhilipp Hachtmann · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2020
• news1979: Will WORD PROCESSORS start a HOME WORKING revolution? | Past Predictions | BBC ArchiveBBC Archive · 1 HN recommender · 2022–2024
• explainerHow Japan Learned SemiconductorsAsianometry · 1 HN recommender · 2022–2023
• commentaryComputers for Cynics 2 - It All Went Wrong at Xerox PARCTheTedNelson · 1 HN recommender · 2014–2023
• talkJames Gosling - Simula: a personal journeyUiO Realfagsbiblioteket · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2026
• demoBeOS Demo Videomikeboss · 1 HN recommender · 2016–2024
• explainerWhy the Soviet Computer FailedAsianometry · 1 HN recommender · 2022–2024
• documentaryTomorrow's World: Nellie the School Computer 15 February 1969 - BBCBBC · 1 HN recommender · 2010–2026
• explainerPaul Otlet, visioning a web in 1934Attila Gárdos · 1 HN recommender · 2014–2022
• demoCanon CatStoria Informatica · 1 HN recommender · 2016–2024
• documentaryThe Computer Programme (1): It's Happening Now (Introduction to Computing)Jesús Zafra (Lobogris) · 1 HN recommender · 2014–2025
• talkDavid Patterson - A New Golden Age for Computer Architecture: History, Challenges and OpportunitiesUBC Computer Science · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2023
• interviewEdsger Dijkstra interviewHans Otten · 1 HN recommender · 2023–2024
• interviewLamport on writing "Time, Clocks, and the Ordering of Events in a Distributed System"Turing Awardee Clips · 1 HN recommender · 2023–2024
• documentaryThe Dial Comes To TownPVid88 · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2026
• talkVCF East: Xerox Star vs. Apple LisaVintage Computer Federation · 1 HN recommender · 2023–2026
• demoMaking Money Flow: The MONIACReserve Bank of New Zealand · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2022
• demoNeXTSTEP Release 3: A Demonstration with Steve JobsJoseph Spiros · 1 HN recommender · 2022–2026
• demoIntentional Programming demo (Part 1) - Editordftube · 1 HN recommender · 2007–2024
• demoHarwell Dekatron / WITCH Reboot tnmoc.orgTNMoC · 1 HN recommender · 2013–2018
• demoDial Up Modem Handshake Sound - SpectrogramBitcore · 1 HN recommender · 2014–2024
• demoEEVblog #1341 - AMAZING $250,000 IBM Processor TEARDOWN!EEVblog · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2022
• talkInventing the Computer Mouse | Douglas Engelbart | Talks at GoogleTalks at Google · 1 HN recommender · 2014–2018
• explainerLCCS: The LCD / CRT Hybrid from JVCTechnology Connections · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2025
• demoIBM Computing Cheese Cutter [Restoration]Hand Tool Rescue · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2024