Ever wondered how programmers wrote the first code? Or why debugging feels like emotional damage in slow motion? Or whether you can become a coder even if math gives you war flashbacks?

In her latest WIRED appearance, UC Berkeley CS Professor Sarah Chasins sits down to answer some of the internet’s most interesting programming questions. From the first ever website (yes, it still works), to ancient computer viruses leaving “Catch me if you can!” notes, to why programming languages keep multiplying like gremlins after midnight, she covers it all with expert clarity and a healthy side of “let me fix your mental model.”

She even explains how computers turn your innocent-looking (1 + 2) + 4 into a pile of ones and zeros, and why Python is somehow the second-best language for everything.

If you’ve ever rage-debugged, vibe-coded, or wondered if JavaScript is secretly judging you, this one’s for you.