Computer Science 391IB - S-Inside the Box:How Cmps Work

In this course we peel away the layers of abstraction and look at how switches become logic circuits, how logic circuits do math, and how programs really execute. We will wire up some simple examples of logic, move on to programming a minimalist simulation of a computer, and gradually build up to the point where we can appreciate how a C program is translated into machine code and what really happens when it executes. We will also see the impact of hidden acceleration mechanisms like caches, pipelines, and branch predictors.

Open to Senior, Junior or Sophmore Computer Science majors only. Pre Req:CMPSCI 220 or 230w/C CMPSCI MINORS, APPLICANTS-ON-CONTRACT, AND OTHERS NOT MEETING ELIGIBILITY, OR STUDENTS NEEDING SPECIAL PERMISSION MUST REQUEST OVERRIDES VIA THE ON-LINE FORM: https://www.cs.umass.edu/ugrad-education/courses . AN OPTIONAL HONORS COLLOQUIUM IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS COURSE.