CSCI 230 - Computing Systems Organization

Fall 2017

Course Overview:
This course is a study of the layers of abstraction composing the design of modern computing systems. Topics include numeric representation, digital logic, CPU design, machine and assembly language, the program stack, virtual machines, compilers, assemblers, memory management and device drivers.

At the end of the course, you will be expected to be able to:

Describe the hierarchy of abstractions that define a modern computer:
- Logic gates
- CPU
- Machine language
- Assembly language and assemblers
- Virtual machines
- High-level languages and compilers
- The Operating System
Understand and apply the basic boolean logical operators.
Create a digital circuit corresponding to a specification given in boolean logic.
Create a digital circuit capable of performing addition from boolean logic.
Create a digital circuit employing clocked memory components.
Describe how boolean logic, memory circuits, and a clock pulse interact to execute a machine language instruction.
Describe the relationship between an assembly language and its corresponding machine language.
Write a program in assembly language.
Create an assembler to translate an assembly language into machine language .
Given two programming languages, articulate a rationale as to why one of them ought to be considered higher-level (or lower-level) than the other.
Describe the role and major components of a compiler.
Describe how a operating system enables a programmer to access the computer's hardware.

Instructor:
Dr. Gabriel Ferrer
M.C. Reynolds 312
http://ozark.hendrix.edu/~ferrer/

Office Hours:
By appointment. To make an appointment with me, visit http://drferrer.youcanbook.me. From there, you can see my availability and select an appointment time.

Also, please feel free to stop by whenever my door is open.

Class Web Page: http://ozark.hendrix.edu/~ferrer/courses/230/

Lecture Time: B2 (9:45-11:00 TR)

Final Exam Period: Wednesday, December 6, 2017, 8:30-11:30 am

Required Textbook:
The Elements of Computing Systems, Noam Nisan and Shimon Schocken, The MIT Press, 2005.
Textbook web page: www.nand2tetris.org

Grading:
There are a total of 1,000 points available over the course of the semester. The thresholds for earning each letter grade are as follows:

Letter grade	Points to achieve
A	900
B	800
C	700
D	600

Here are the semester's assignments and the associated points for each:

Assignment	Total Value
Project 1	40
Project 2	40
Project 3	40
Project 4	40
Project 5	40
Project 6	40
Project 7	40
Project 8a	20
Project 8b	40
Project 9	40
Project 10a	30
Project 10b	40
Project 11a	30
Project 11b	40
Project 12a	40
Project 12b	40
Midterm Exam	150
Final Exam	250

Building a simulated computer: Our textbook contains a series of 12 projects that, when completed, result in a complete simulated computer. We will begin by constructing a simulated CPU using logic gates. From there, we will build an assembler and compiler for creating programs. We will also create a very simple operating system.

Each project must be completed individually. Your experience of learning how a computer works depends directly on your independent completion of these assignments. The rules below are intended to make the parameters of collaboration clear.

You may:

Discuss the projects with other students.

You may not:

Read any solution to any project, whether from another student, found online, or from any other source.
Show your solution to any other student.
Give or receive help in debugging a project solution. Requests for debugging help must be directed to the professor.

Any violations of this policy will be referred to the Committee on Academic Integrity as a major violation, with a recommended sanction of failure in the course.

Deadlines: For each assignment, to earn full credit the assignment must be submitted to Moodle by 11:55 pm on the specified date. Any part of an assignment not submitted on time earns a maximum of 80% of the possible points. All assignments must be submitted by the start of the final exam period to receive credit.

Computer Lab Facility: You will receive an account that enables you to use the Linux machines in MCReynolds 316. Be sure to review the lab policy page: http://ozark.hendrix.edu/linux/policies.html

Accommodations: It is the policy of Hendrix College to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal and state law. Any student who needs accommodation in relation to a recognized disability should inform the instructor at the beginning of the course. In order to receive accommodations, students with disabilities are directed to contact Julie Brown in Academic Support Services at 501-505-2954.

Schedule: The anticipated schedule for the semester is below. The instructor reserves the right to alter the schedule as necessary during the semester. Unless noted otherwise, each project is due at the start of class.

Date	Day	Topic/Activity	Reading	Assignment Due
8/22	Tuesday	Introduction Boolean Logic	None	None
8/24	Thursday	Boolean Arithmetic	Chapters 1 and 2 Appendix A	None
8/25	(Friday)	None	None	Project 1
8/29	Tuesday	More Boolean Arithmetic Sequential Logic	Chapter 3	None
8/30	(Wednesday)	None	None	Project 2
8/31	Thursday	Sequential Logic	Chapter 3	None
9/4	(Monday)	None	None	Project 3
9/5	Tuesday	Machine Language	None	None
9/7	Thursday	Hack Assembly Examples Overview of ARM Assembly	Chapter 4	None
9/11	(Monday)	None	None	Project 4
9/12	Tuesday	Computer Architecture	None	None
9/14	Thursday	Computer Architecture	Chapter 5	None
9/18	(Monday)	None	None	Project 5
9/19	Tuesday	Assembler	None	None
9/21	Thursday	Assembler Review for Exam	Chapter 6	None
9/26	Tuesday	Midterm Exam	Chapters 1-6	None
9/27	(Wednesday)	None	None	Project 6
9/28	Thursday	Virtual Machine I: Stack Arithmetic	Chapter 7	None
10/3	Tuesday	Practice with Stack Arithmetic Memory Layout of Objects	None	None
10/4	(Wednesday)	None	None	Project 7
10/5	Thursday	Virtual Machine II: Program Control	Chapter 8	None
10/9	(Monday)	None	None	Project 8, part 1
10/10	Tuesday	Virtual Machine II: Program Control	None	None
10/11	(Wednesday)	None	None	Project 8, part 2
10/12	Thursday	Fall Break	None	None
10/17	Tuesday	High-Level Language	None	None
10/18	(Wednesday)	None	None	Project 9: Concept
10/19	Thursday	High-Level Language	Chapter 9	None
10/23	(Monday)	None	None	Project 9
10/24	Tuesday	Compiler I: Syntax Analysis	Chapter 10	None
10/26	Thursday	Compiler I: Syntax Analysis	None	None
10/27	(Friday)	None	None	Project 10: Tokenizer
10/31	Tuesday	Compiler I: Syntax Analysis	None	None
11/1	(Wednesday)	None	None	Project 10: Parser
11/2	Thursday	Compiler II: Code Generation	Chapter 11	None
11/6	(Monday)	None	None	Project 11: Part 1
11/7	Tuesday	Compiler II: Code Generation	None	None
11/9	Thursday	Compiler Optimization	None	None
11/13	(Monday)	None	None	Project 11: Part 2
11/14	Tuesday	Operating System	Chapter 12	None
11/16	Thursday	Operating System	None	None
11/21	Tuesday	No class	None	Project 12: Part 1
11/23	Thursday	Thanksgiving	None	None
11/28	Tuesday	Operating System Processes	None	None
11/30	Thursday	Review Course Evaluations	None	None
12/4	Monday	None	None	Project 12: Part 2
12/6	Wednesday 8:30-11:30	Final Exam	None	All remaining work