# 452: Numbers on Computers Are Weird

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2023-06-15
- Length: 1h 11m
- Episode: 452
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-06-15-452-numbers-on-computers-are-weird
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/452

## Summary

Julia Evans, creator of Wizard Zines, explains how computers represent numbers, covering the binary structure of 64-bit floating-point numbers, the trade-offs between range and precision, and the implementation of two's complement for signed integers. She discusses the practical implications of these representations, such as the inexact nature of decimal fractions in binary, the complexity of printing floating-point values, and the use of fixed-point arithmetic (Q numbers) in embedded systems lacking hardware FPUs. The conversation also touches on her career transition to full-time technical writing, her use of tools like Affinity Designer and GDB, and her interactive 'playgrounds' like Memory Spy and messwithdns.com.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-06-15-452-numbers-on-computers-are-weird#t=6) Introduction: Julia Evans and Wizard Zines
- [2:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-06-15-452-numbers-on-computers-are-weird#t=160) Lightning Round: Career and Favorites
- [6:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-06-15-452-numbers-on-computers-are-weird#t=384) Floating-Point Representation and Precision
- [15:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-06-15-452-numbers-on-computers-are-weird#t=922) Printing Floats and Testing Tolerance
- [23:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-06-15-452-numbers-on-computers-are-weird#t=1406) Integer Limits and the Year 2038 Problem
- [28:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-06-15-452-numbers-on-computers-are-weird#t=1709) Hexadecimal, Binary, and Color Encodings
- [35:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-06-15-452-numbers-on-computers-are-weird#t=2127) Two's Complement and Signed Integers
- [38:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-06-15-452-numbers-on-computers-are-weird#t=2334) Pricing and Selling Technical Zines
- [58:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-06-15-452-numbers-on-computers-are-weird#t=3521) Interactive Playgrounds: Memory Spy and DNS
- [1:04:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-06-15-452-numbers-on-computers-are-weird#t=3873) Embedded Math: Fixed Point and Division

## Topics

- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Wizard Zines (product)
- Volta Labs (company)
- Affinity Designer (tool)
- GDB (tool)
- Memory Spy (product)
- messwithdns.com (product)
- float.exposed (product)
- integer.exposed (product)
- OpenCV (tool)
- TensorFlow (tool)
- Cortex-M0 (chip)
- Cortex-M4 (chip)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [An Interview with Elecia White - Wirewove Worshipping Wookieist?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-03-05-an-interview-with-elecia-white-wirewove-worshipping-wookieist) (The Amp Hour)
- [045 - Rizin and Cutter](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-02-15-045-rizin-and-cutter) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [It Works With Option Number 5](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2025-06-19-it-works-with-option-number-5) (The Amp Hour)
- [FPGA, Xess, 32 Bit - Quirky Qualitative Questions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-01-08-fpga-xess-32-bit-quirky-qualitative-questions) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep 193: Found Computers, Internet Over WhatsApp, Two-Factor C64, Shifting Cars, and Self-Shooting Fighter Planes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-11-18-ep-193-found-computers-internet-over-whatsapp-two-factor-c64-shifting-cars-and-s) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-06-15-452-numbers-on-computers-are-weird. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.