Announcements
Welcome back.
Week 1
Introduction to machine and assembly instruction sets via the PDP-8,
a computer from the 1960s. Two's complement integers.
- Meeting the PDP-8/E
- Due on paper by 9:40AM Friday, September 15.
- Reading:
Introduction to Programming, PDP-8 Family Computers, Chapter 1.
- Read as needed for your assignments.
- Reading: Patterson and Hennessy, Chapter 1
- Read by Wednesday, September 13.
Week 2
More PDP-8. An introduction to the MIPS instruction set.
- Multiplication on the PDP-8/E
- Due via HSP
by 9:50AM Wednesday, September 20.
- Reading: Patterson and Hennessy, Chapter 2
- Read by Monday, September 25. This chapter is long, so start early.
Week 3
More MIPS. Some information on how assemblers and compilers work. Discussion
of RISC vs. CISC.
- Recursion on the PDP-8/E
- Due via HSP
by 9:50AM Monday, September 25.
- Reading: Patterson and Hennessy, Appendix B.1-9 (on the textbook's CD).
- Read by Monday, October 1.
- Clearing the PDP-8/E's memory
- Due via HSP
by 9:40AM Friday, September 29.
Week 4
Digital logic.
- Some exercises
- Due on paper by 9:40AM Friday, October 6.
- Reading: Patterson and Hennessy, Chapter 3.
- Read by Monday, October 9.
Week 5
Digital logic and CPU performance evaluation.
- Some exercises
- Due on paper by 9:40AM Friday, October 13.
- Reading: Patterson and Hennessy, Chapter 4.
- Read by Wednesday, October 18.
Week 6
Midterm break, takehome exam, and arithmetic.
- Takehome exam
- Due on paper by 9:40AM Friday, October 20.
- Reading: Patterson and Hennessy, Chapter 3.
- Read by Monday, October 23 if you didn't already read it during week 4.
Week 7
Byte order and datapaths.
- Some exercises
- Due on paper by 9:50AM Monday, October 30.
- Reading: Patterson and Hennessy, Chapter 5.
Week 8
Datapath, control, and a takehome exam.
- Takehome exam
- Due on paper by 9:50AM Monday, November 6.
Finals Weeks
- Takehome final exam
- Due 5:00PM Monday, November 20.