8 ms·

I always wanted to understand how a CPU works, how it transitions from one instruction to the next and makes a computer work. So I thought: let's implement one

I always wanted to understand how a CPU works, how it transitions from one instruction to the next and makes a computer work. So I thought: let's implement one and run a C program on it.

jasonwatkinspdx 4y ago
The textbooks by Hennessy and Patterson are the definitive ones. I think every programmer would be very well served reading them. There's older editions available online for free that are perfectly adequate for understanding the big picture.
HappyJoy 4y ago
Check out some videos by Ben Eater on Youtube
- rickstanley 4y ago
  +1 to Ben Eater! His videos helped me so much during university, it was like finding real gold between fool's gold.
- jchw 4y ago
  Ben Eater routinely makes me feel ashamed of how awful my breadboard wiring looks. Fantastic videos.
  - LoganDark 4y ago
    To be fair, all the wires he uses are pre-cut / pre-shaped for the video. The videos are meticulously planned and marvelously executed. Normally hobby projects do not have nearly as much thought put into them.
    - koromak 4y ago
      I've been taking the time to perfectly measure out all the wires on my 8-bit because I don't mind the monotony, its kind of peaceful. But holy hell it takes a long time. Its like 95% measuring and cutting, 5% thinking, testing and debugging. Its a bit of a welcome relief from software, which is 95% thinking and 5% typing. A bit of monotony might be good for the brain.
- moffkalast 4y ago
  Unless your name is Ben, in which case I'd advise caution.
- codepoet 4y ago
  yes, these are great!
erichocean 4y ago
This is written for young people, but still accurate: Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software by Charles Petzold Link: https://www.amazon.com/Code-Language-Computer-Hardware-Software-dp-0137909101/dp/0137909101/ https://www.amazon.com/Code-Language-Computer-Hardware-Softw... It's got a very slow, methodical onramp with a lot of diagrams and a light, breezy style. You end up building a (very simple) computer in the end, including instruction processing.
jasonwatkinspdx 4y ago
The textbooks by Hennessy and Patterson are the definitive ones.

I always wanted to understand how a CPU works, how it transitions from one instruction to the next and makes a computer work. So I thought: let's implement one and run a C program on it.

jasonwatkinspdx 4y ago

The textbooks by Hennessy and Patterson are the definitive ones. I think every programmer would be very well served reading them. There's older editions available online for free that are perfectly adequate for understanding the big picture.

HappyJoy 4y ago

Check out some videos by Ben Eater on Youtube

rickstanley 4y ago
+1 to Ben Eater! His videos helped me so much during university, it was like finding real gold between fool's gold.
jchw 4y ago
Ben Eater routinely makes me feel ashamed of how awful my breadboard wiring looks. Fantastic videos.
- LoganDark 4y ago
  To be fair, all the wires he uses are pre-cut / pre-shaped for the video. The videos are meticulously planned and marvelously executed. Normally hobby projects do not have nearly as much thought put into them.
  - koromak 4y ago
    I've been taking the time to perfectly measure out all the wires on my 8-bit because I don't mind the monotony, its kind of peaceful. But holy hell it takes a long time. Its like 95% measuring and cutting, 5% thinking, testing and debugging. Its a bit of a welcome relief from software, which is 95% thinking and 5% typing. A bit of monotony might be good for the brain.
moffkalast 4y ago
Unless your name is Ben, in which case I'd advise caution.
codepoet 4y ago
yes, these are great!

erichocean 4y ago

This is written for young people, but still accurate: Code: The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software by Charles Petzold Link: https://www.amazon.com/Code-Language-Computer-Hardware-Software-dp-0137909101/dp/0137909101/ https://www.amazon.com/Code-Language-Computer-Hardware-Softw... It's got a very slow, methodical onramp with a lot of diagrams and a light, breezy style. You end up building a (very simple) computer in the end, including instruction processing.

jasonwatkinspdx 4y ago

The textbooks by Hennessy and Patterson are the definitive ones.