Design a CPU

🎓 Design a CPU: Explore the Heart of Computers

Course Headline: Computer Architecture and Design

🚀 If you've ever wondered how a computer operates at its core, this course is your gateway to understanding the intricacies of CPU design! 💻

In this comprehensive journey, I, Ross McGowan, will guide you through the entire process of designing a simple yet functional CPU using Logisim, an accessible online tool. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned tech enthusiast, you can download Logisim and bring to life the very CPU we'll be constructing together. You can choose to follow along with the videos or dive deeper by working hands-on with the simulation files. It's entirely up to you!

🤖 Course Features:

• User-Friendly Design Tool: Learn with Logisim, a user-friendly design tool that allows you to visualize and simulate your CPU design.

• Language Inclusivity: With subtitles available in 78 different languages, this course is designed to be accessible to learners around the globe. If your preferred language isn't listed, let us know, and we'll add it! And for non-native English speakers, feel free to use subtitles alongside slowed-down video playback (0.75x speed) for an optimal learning experience.

• Hands-On Learning: We kick off our adventure by downloading Logisim and familiarizing ourselves with its interface. Then, we'll embark on a step-by-step CPU design journey, starting with the basics like logic gates, memory cells, registers, decoders, RAM, ALU, and the clock.

• Philosophical Interlude: We'll take a moment to ponder whether a computer can answer the ultimate question of 'Life, the Universe, and Everything.' This philosophical detour will provide context and depth to the capabilities and limitations of computing machines.

🧠 Advanced CPU Design:

After our interlude, we dive back into the nitty-gritty of designing the Control Unit, where you'll experience that profound 'EUREKA' moment when you grasp the inner workings of a CPU. Here, we focus on:

• Instruction Set Architecture within the Control Unit, understanding the FETCH EXECUTE cycle and various instructions like ALU operations, LOAD and STORE commands, and conditional jumps.

• Building an Assembler: We'll construct an assembler using Microsoft Excel to convert human-readable instructions into machine language that our CPU can understand.

• Creating an Assembly Language Debugger: With the assembler in place, we'll develop a debugger to troubleshoot and refine our assembly programs.

📊 Real-World Application:

Our journey culminates with loading the CPU with our first program—an algorithm that multiplies two numbers, demonstrating the practical application of the concepts we've learned. You'll be able to see your CPU executing code in real-time or step through each instruction for an in-depth understanding of what's happening within your own design.

📚 Additional Resources:

Keep an eye on the bonus section, where I will continuously add extra material, including expanding the CPU to 16 bits, creating more complex assembly language algorithms, and delving into the VBA code behind the assembler and debugger. There's even more content to come!

This course aligns with the CPU design principles outlined in "But How Do It Know?" by Michael J. Feldstein, which is highly recommended reading (not required for course completion).

👀 Who Should Take This Course?

If you're curious about what lies at the heart of a computer and how it operates, this is your perfect starting point! Whether you're a student, educator, hobbyist, or professional, understanding the fundamental principles of computer architecture has never been more accessible. Dive into the world of CPU design with us today! 🖥️

Enroll now and embark on an exciting journey to understand the foundations of computer architecture and design your very own CPU! 🎉