Life & fun · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to The Boy and the Computer

Graphic novel inspired by real world programming hacks

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. The Boy and the Computer launched in 2016; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1
Hackers▲75
Heroes of the computer revolution
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
2
Hackers and Painters▲15
The computer world and motivations of those who occupy it
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
3
Design for Hackers▲78
Visual design, deconstructed
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
4
The Sketchbook Project▲87
A crowd-sourced library of Sketchbooks
2014 · its alternatives →
5
A storybook designed to teach kids about how computers work▲132
I’ve been working on a unique storybook designed to teach kids about how computers work, and I would love to get your feedback. Set 500 years in the future, the story follows two kids – one a robot, the other a human – as they explore the workings of what to them is ancient technology: our present-day computers. I’ve aimed to keep each story short and engaging, sprinkling in humor and illustrations to captivate young readers. As an open-source project, you’re also welcome to check out the source here: https://github.com/yong/lostlanguageofthemachines
2024 · lostlanguageofthemachines.com · its alternatives →
6
Hardware Hacker▲63
Adventures in Making and Breaking Hardware
2016 · nostarch.com · its alternatives →
7
Code▲76
The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software
2016 · namecheap.com · its alternatives →
8
Coders at Work: Reflections on the Craft of Programming▲70
Interviews with the 15 most interesting computer programmers
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
9
Hackers & Painters: Big Ideas from the Computer Age ▲79
Essays by Paul Graham
2015 · its alternatives →
10
Design Noir: The Secret Life of Electronic Objects▲60
Conceptual products & alternate narratives of gadget culture
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
11
Silicon Heroes▲120
A graphic novel where entrepreneurs have superpowers!
2015 · indiegogo.com · its alternatives →
12
Neurocomic▲69
A graphic novel about how the brain works
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
13
Making Ideas Happen▲75
Overcoming the obstacles between vision and reality
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
14
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs▲85
Computer science curriculum must-read
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
15
Kooba▲141
An interactive graph for finding new books
2017 · its alternatives →
16
Programming Languages ABC++▲73
An alphabet book about coding for kids
2015 · kickstarter.com · its alternatives →
17
Fake it Make it▲168
A free eBook about UX design and rapid app prototyping
2015 · keynotopia.com · its alternatives →
18
The Misfit Economy▲68
Lessons in creativity from pirates & hackers
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
19
Decoding AP Computer Science A▲60
For high schoolers, by a high schooler
2016 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
20
Litographs▲80
An entire book, printed on a t-shirt
2014 · litographs.com · its alternatives →
21
Future Visions▲66
Original science fiction inspired by Microsoft
2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →
22
The Watch Kids▲66
A next generation digital book for kids
2015 · its alternatives →
23
BubbleSort Zines▲64
Zines about computer science!
2016 · kickstarter.com · its alternatives →
24
Leo the Maker Prince▲77
A Kids’ Book Where Every Character Can Be 3-D Printed
2014 · leothemakerprince.com · its alternatives →

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Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →