CS270 Colorado State University
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Introduction: Computer Organization
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Introductions
    -Roll will be taken.
    -Put username and preferred email address on sign up sheet.

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Layers (Zooming In)

    Problem
        Examples: connect four (given current board state, what should next move be given the goal is to win)
        
    Algorithms
        "Anything that can be computed, can be computed with a computer"
        Universal Turing Machine is model for what can be computed. (CS 301)
        
    Language
        Used to implement algorithms.
        Examples: Java, C, Fortran, C++, Python, and many more.

    Machine ISA and Operating System
        Machine code and corresponding assembly language.
        Examples: LC3, MIPS, x86, sparc
        
        OS kernel calls
        Examples: sleep(), malloc(), etc.

    Logic Circuits
        Physical gates that implement digital logic such as AND and NOT.
        
        Sequential circuits are capable of maintaining state.
        Examples: DRAM
    
    Devices
        Not covered in this course.
        Examples: transistors

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Class Outline (Zooming Out)

    Number representation
        -How we represent numbers using only zeros and ones.
        
        -Operations using binary number representations.

    Circuits
        -Combinational and Sequential circuits.
        
        -How circuits can be used to implement finite state machines.

    Instruction Set Architectures, Machine Architecture
        -LC3 - LD-ST architecture, 16-bit instructions, 15 different instructions

        -Microarchitecture is how LC3 ISA is implemented using sequential and combinational circuits.
            -The control unit in the LC3 microarchitecture can be modeled with a finite state machine (CS 301).

    The C programming language
        Basics of compilation
            % gcc main.c
            
            -Generates a.out executable.  Not the same as Java byte code.
            
            -main.c is source file that contains C code.
    
    
        When useful
        -systems programming when it is necessary to play around with pointers to memory, Java cannot easily do that.  Linux/unix platforms implemented in C.
        -widely used especially in lower-level code such as drivers
        -the syntax of many languages derives from C: C++, Java, php, perl, scripting languages, ...
        -when performance really matters

        When not as useful
        -high-level application programming


    The interaction between C and MIPS (Zooming in a little bit)
        -MIPS is a real assembly language.
        -Function calls between languages.
        -Recursion, recursion, recursion.
        

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Course themes
    -Learn the levels from the bottom up
    
    -Program development on the command line
        -compiler: gcc
        -build system: make
        -debugging: gdb, valgrind
        -revision control: subversion
        -documentation: man
        
    -Unit testing is important.
    
    -Comments are important.
    
    -Software organization is important. 
    
    -Instruction Set Architectures share many common characteristics.
        - You will learn: LC3 and MIPS
        - We will discuss: x86
        
    -Start assignments early or you will regret it.

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Administrivia
    -Hand out syllabus and PA0 packet.

    -Look at webpage: http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~cs270
    
    -Look at schedule for programming assignments.
        -Discuss that homeworks and programming assignments are combined into programming assignments.
        -Labs will be given in recitations.  First one will be after PA2 is done.
        -Recitations will be covering programming assignments.
        
    -Discuss student responsibilities on syllabus.
    
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mstrout@cs.colostate.edu, 8/22/08