ARLIZ: From Zero to Understanding

Sometimes the best projects start with the simplest questions. What is an array, really? Not just the syntax or the operations, but the why behind it all.

ARLIZ began as curiosity—a persistent itch to understand data structures from their roots rather than memorizing implementations. It’s grown into something more: a living book that explores computation from counting stones to silicon chips, from ancient calculation methods to modern algorithms.

What ARLIZ Means

Arrays, Reasoning, Logic, Identity, Zero

These aren’t just buzzwords. They represent the journey from the philosophical concept of “nothing” (zero) to how we organize and manipulate data today. It’s about understanding the why before the how.

A Book That Grows

ARLIZ isn’t finished—it evolves. Whenever I learn something worth writing, it gets added. Whenever I find a better way to explain a concept, it gets revised. It’s less about reaching a destination and more about documenting the journey.

The book starts where most others don’t: with context. We begin with the abacus, mechanical gears, and early logic—long before anyone thought of transistors. Because understanding where we came from makes where we’re going much clearer.

Available freely at github.com/m-mdy-m/Arliz