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 8:30AM Friday, September 14.
Reading: Introduction to Programming, PDP-8 Family Computers, Chapter 2.
Read as needed for your assignments. We will work only with Chapter 2 of this document, though some of the rest of it is pretty interesting reading from a historical point of view. Note that Chapter 2 begins on page "01-36" of this pdf file.
Reading: Patterson and Hennessy, Chapter 1
Read by Monday, September 17.

Week 2

More PDP-8. An introduction to the MIPS instruction set.

Multiplication on the PDP-8/E
Due via HSP by 11:59 PM Thursday, September 20.
Reading: Patterson and Hennessy, Chapter 2
Read by Monday, September 24. 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 11:59 PM Monday, September 24.
Clearing the PDP-8/E's memory
Due via HSP by 8:30 AM Wednesday, September 26.
Reading: Patterson and Hennessy, Appendix B.1-9 (on the textbook's CD).
Read by Monday, October 1.

Week 4

Digital logic.

Some exercises
Due on paper by 8:30AM Friday, October 5.
Reading: Patterson and Hennessy, Chapter 3.
Read by Monday, October 9.

Week 5

Takehome test, digital logic.

The takehome exam
Due on paper by 8:30AM Friday, October 12.
Reading: Patterson and Hennessy, Chapter 4.
Read by Wednesday, October 17.

Week 6

Midterm break, data represntation.

Some exercises
Due on paper by 8:30AM Wednesday, October 24.

Week 8

Datapath, control, and a takehome exam.

Performance analysis exercises
Due on paper by 8:30AM Friday, November 2.
Takehome exam
Due on paper by 8:30AM Wednesday, November 7.

Finals Weeks

Takehome final exam
Due 5:00PM Monday, November 19.