About the Course
This course presents an introduction to computer architecture, beginning with digital gates and number representation; building up through the Von Neumann model, Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) and assembly language; and ending with C programs interacting with assembly programs. Most of the concepts in this course will be reinforced through programming assignments in C.
Announcements
September 7, 2008: Notes for September 9th have been posted on the schedule.
September 7, 2008: PA2 has been posted. The overflow recitation on Monday the 8th will cover topics related to PA2. In PA2, we will be taking off points for incomplete and incomprehensible sentences in the README file. We will also be taking off points for not copying the questions into the README file. (See PA2-start/pa2.guideline).
September 5, 2008: PA0 has been graded. Use the ~cs270/bin/grade program to check your grade. Graded README files will be handed out in class Tuesday.
September 5, 2008: We are scheduling an extra recitation for Mondays, from 1-2PM. If this time works better than your current recitation time, please send Dr. Strout or one of the TAs an e-mail so we can switch you.
September 4, 2008:In Thursday's recitation I incorrectly explained big-endian and little-endian in terms of bits. To be correct I should to said that in little-endian machines, the bytes are ordered in terms of least significant to most significant. Inside each byte however, the bits are ordered from most to least significant as you would expect. This is why in the isBigE() function the first byte extracted will be 1 if it is little-endian, but 0 if it is big-endian.
I apologize for the confusion -- Jeshua Bratman
September 4, 2008: Question 8 in PA1 indicated 16-bit words, but floating point numbers use 32-bit words. The PA1 writeup has been modified accordingly.
September 3, 2008: Posted 04-FP.txt notes in schedule.
September 2, 2008: Reposted cbits.c in schedule with minor printf formatting correction.
September 1, 2008: Posted 03-Cbits.txt notes for September 2 class in schedule and posted PA1 in assignments.
Aug 31, 2008: Moved midterm to October 14th. See schedule. Changed PA4 and PA5 around to accomodate the new midterm date. See assignments. Also put percentage of grade each assignment is worth on assignments page.
Aug 31, 2008: Minor modifications have been made to PA0 and the SVN Notes.
Changes to svn-notes.html- Read chapters 1 and 2 of subversion manual instead of 2 and 3.
- Replaced $HOMEDIR, $USER, etc. with clearer instructions.
- The directories PA0.html suggests you create now match those in the svn-notes.html.
Aug 27, 2008: The class notes for August 28th have been posted.
Aug 26, 2008:
- Office hours updated on syllabus. Some of the lab hours are different from those listed on the printed syllabus you got in class, so make sure to check the new hours. Also, Michelle's office hours are at the top of the syllabus.
- In order to complete programming assignment 0 (PA0), which is due Tuesday 9/2/08, you must get the handout from the 8/26 class. If you missed class, pick up a copy in one of the recitations.
Aug 23, 2008: The first set of class notes and reading assignments have been posted on the schedule link. PA0 has been posted in the list of assignments.
Recitations: You MUST attend regularly. You may attend a section other than the one for which you are enrolled only after all those enrolled in that section have been accommodated.