Build a Modern Computer from First Principles: From Nand to Tetris (Project-Centered Course)

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/build-a-computer

Introduction

### Build a Modern Computer from First Principles: From Nand to Tetris (Project-Centered Course) Review #### Overview In the digital world, understanding how computers work at the most fundamental level is invaluable. The *Build a Modern Computer from First Principles: From Nand to Tetris* course on Coursera offers a remarkable journey through the process of constructing a computer from scratch. This project-centered course is designed to take learners through six detailed hands-on projects, starting with the basics of logic gates and culminating in the development of a fully functional general-purpose computer. By the end of this course, you will not only have a solid understanding of key computer science principles, but you’ll also have built a comprehensive computer system, deepening your comprehension of both hardware and software. #### Course Structure & Syllabus The course is divided into six modules, each dedicated to a crucial aspect of computer architecture: 1. **Introduction**: This module sets the stage, explaining abstraction and implementation in systems design. 2. **Boolean Functions and Gate Logic**: You will learn about Boolean algebra and how to implement Boolean functions with logic gates. Here, you will build and simulate your first elementary logic gates, which are the foundational components for the later stages of the course. 3. **Boolean Arithmetic and the ALU**: This part focuses on building a family of adders and an Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) that will serve as the heart of your computer's processing capabilities. 4. **Memory**: You’ll dive into Random Access Memory (RAM), learning to create a memory unit from flip-flop gates, registers, and various RAM chips. 5. **Machine Language**: In this module, you’ll define a low-level machine language to instruct your constructed computer. You’ll also use a CPU emulator to run programs written in this newly created language—an exciting step that reinforces your understanding of low-level programming. 6. **Computer Architecture and Assembler**: The final modules combine everything to build the Hack CPU, integrate it with RAM and develop an assembler to translate symbolic programs into executable binary code. #### What You’ll Achieve This course provides a hands-on experience that is both engaging and enlightening. Key outcomes include: - Mastery of Boolean algebra and logic gate implementation. - Ability to construct and test various components such as the ALU and RAM. - Creation of programs using a custom machine language. - In-depth understanding of how a computer operates at the hardware level. - Experience in developing an assembler, bridging the gap between human-friendly code and machine-level binary. #### Recommended For This course is highly recommended for: - **Computer Science Students**: Those seeking to solidify their foundational knowledge in computer architecture. - **Enthusiasts and Hobbyists**: Individuals with a passion for technology who want to understand how computers operate at a conceptual level. - **Professionals**: Engineers and developers looking to enhance their knowledge of hardware-software interaction. #### Conclusion The *Build a Modern Computer from First Principles: From Nand to Tetris* course on Coursera offers an incredible opportunity for learners of all backgrounds to deeply understand computer systems. With its clear structure, engaging projects, and practical applications, it equips you with the skills and knowledge necessary to appreciate and innovate within the vast field of computer science. Whether you're a student, a curious tech enthusiast, or a seasoned professional, this course will undoubtedly broaden your comprehension and inspire your future endeavors in technology.

Syllabus

Introduction

Course introduction and overview, the roles of abstraction and implementation in systems design, the road ahead.

We will start with a brief introduction of Boolean algebra, and learn how Boolean functions can be physically implemented using logic gates. We will then learn how to specify gates and chips using a Hardware Description Language (HDL), and how to simulate the behaviour of the resulting chip specifications using a hardware simulator. This background will set the stage for Project 1, in which you will build, simulate, and test 15 elementary logic gates. The chipset that you will build this module will be later used to construct the computer's Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) and memory system. This will be done in modules 2 and 3, respectively.

General Course Information

Using the chipset that we've built in the previous module, we will now proceed to build a family of adders -- chips designed to add numbers. We will then take a big step forward and build an Arithmetic Logic Unit. The ALU, which is designed to perform a whole set of arithmetic and logical operations, is the computer's calculating brain. Later in the course we will use this ALU as the centerpiece chip from which we will build the computer's Central Processing Unit, or CPU. Since all these chips operate on binary numbers (0's and 1's), we will start this module with a general overview of binary arithmetic, and only then delve into building the ALU.

Having built the computer's ALU, this module we turn to building the computer's main memory unit, also known as Random Access Memory, or RAM. This will be done gradually, going bottom-up from elementary flip-flop gates to one-bit registers to n-bit registers to a family of RAM chips. Unlike the computer's processing chips, which are based on combinational logic, the computer's memory logic requires a clock-based sequential logic. We will start with an overview of this theoretical background, and then move on to build our memory chipset.

A critically important aspect of building a new computer system is designing the low-level machine language, or instruction set, with which the computer can be instructed to do various things. As it turns out, this can be done before the computer itself is actually built. For example, we can write a Java program that emulates the yet-to-be-built computer, and then use it to emulate the execution of programs written in the new machine language. Such experiments can give us a good appreciation of the bare bone "look and feel" of the new computer, and lead to decisions that may well change and improve both the hardware and the language designs. Taking a similar approach, in this module we assume that the Hack computer and machine language have been built, and write some low-level programs using the Hack machine language. We will then use a supplied CPU Emulator (a computer program) to test and execute our programs. This experience will give you a taste of low-level programming, as well as a solid hands-on overview of the Hack computer platform.

Let's recap the last four modules: we've built some elementary logic gates (module 1), and then used them to build an ALU (module 2) and a RAM (module 3). We then played with low-level programming (module 4), assuming that the overall computer is actually available. In this module we assemble all these building blocks into a general-purpose 16-bit computer called Hack. We will start by building the Hack Central Processing Unit (CPU), and we will then integrate the CPU with the RAM, creating a full-blown computer system capable of executing programs written in the Hack machine language.

Every computer has a binary machine language, in which instructions are written as series of 0's and 1's, and a symbolic machine language, also known as assembly language, in which instructions are expressed using human-friendly mnemonics. Both languages do exactly the same thing, and are completely equivalent. But, writing programs in assembly is far easier and safer then writing in binary. In order to enjoy this luxury, someone has to translate our symbolic programs into binary code that can execute as-is on the target computer. This translation service is done by an agent called assembler. The assembler can be either a person who carries out the translation manually, or a computer program that automates the process. In this module and final project in the course we learn how to build an assembler. In particular, we'll develop the capability of translating symbolic Hack programs into binary code that can be executed as-is on the Hack platform. Each one of you can choose to accomplish this feat in two different ways: you can either implement an assembler using a high-level language, or you can simulate the assembler's operation using paper and pencil. In both cases we give detailed guidelines about how to carry out your work.