Book Image

Computer Architecture with Python and ARM

By : Alan Clements
Book Image

Computer Architecture with Python and ARM

By: Alan Clements

Overview of this book

This comprehensive guide offers a unique and immersive learning experience by combining Python programming with ARM architecture. Starting with an introduction to computer architecture and the flow of data within a computer system, you’ll progress to building your own interpreter using Python. You’ll see how this foundation enables the simulation of computer operations and learn ways to enhance a simulator by adding new instructions and displaying improved results. As you advance, you’ll explore the TC1 Assembler and Simulator Program to gain insights into instruction analysis and explore practical examples of simulators. This will help you build essential skills in understanding complex computer instructions, strengthening your grasp of computer architecture. Moreover, you’ll be introduced to the Raspberry Pi operating system, preparing you to delve into the detailed language of the ARM computer. This includes exploring the ARM instruction set architecture, data-processing instructions, subroutines, and the stack. With clear explanations, practical examples, and coding exercises, this resource will enable you to design and construct your own computer simulator, simulate assembly language programs, and leverage the Raspberry Pi for ARM programming.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
1
Part 1: Using Python to Simulate a Computer
Free Chapter
2
Chapter 1: From Finite State Machines to Computers
10
Part 2: Using Raspberry Pi to Study a Real Computer Architecture

2

High-Speed Introduction to Python

This chapter introduces Python and demonstrates how to write a program in Python to solve the type of problem we described in Chapter 1. We are not going to delve deeply into Python in this chapter, but we will cover Python sufficiently to enable you to simulate and modify a computer to incorporate your own ideas.

Traditionally, a computer program has been compared to a cookery recipe because they are analogous. Strictly speaking, this statement applies only to procedural languages such as Python, Java, and C. Functional languages such as Lisp do not conform to this strictly sequential paradigm and are beyond the scope of this text

A recipe is a sequence of operations (i.e., actions or steps) that are carried out in order on the ingredients used by the recipe. A program is the same; it is a sequence of operations (instructions) that are carried out, in order, on data. The instructions of a program are carried out, one by one, sequentially...