Workshop In Computer Construction

Projects

The projects below walk you through a step-by-step construction of a typical computer. The first five projects focus on the construction of the computer's hardware and assembler. The remaining projects deal with the construction of the computer's software hierarchy, and with the implementation of a simple Java-like language.

No. Name Deadline Remarks
Project 1 Boolean Logic 31/10/2004
Project 2 Boolean Arithmetic 31/10/3004
Project 3 Sequential Logic (original version) 7/11/2004
Project 4 Machine Language 14/11/2004
Project 5 Computer Architecture 21/11/2004
Project 6 The Assembler 28/11/2004
Project 7 Virtual Machine I 12/12/2004
Project 8 Virtual Machine II 19/12/2004
Project 9 The High Level Language 26/12/2004
Project 10 The Compiler I: Syntax Analysis 9/1/2004
Project 11 The Compiler II: Code Generation 16/1/2004
Project 12 The Operating System 23/1/2004

Each project is essentially a series of implementation exercises. Alltogether there are some 300 such exercises, each being a stand-alone hardware element (e.g. a gate or a chip) or an independent software module (e.g. a class or a method). Each exercise has an executable solution that can be plugged into the project without gaining access to the underlying source code.