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

Comments

Because computer languages can be terse and confusing to the human reader, they let you add comments that are ignored by the computer (i.e., they are not part of the program). In Python, any text on the same line following the # symbol is ignored. In the following examples, we’ve put that text in a different font to emphasize that it’s not part of the program. First, consider the following Python expression:

hours = 12           # Set the value of the variable hours to 12

This code creates a new data element called hours and gives it the integer value 12. Figure 2.2 illustrates the structure of this line.

Figure 2.2 – The structure of a statement with a comment

Figure 2.2 – The structure of a statement with a comment

Let’s say you were then to write the following:

allTime = hours + 3    # Add 3 to the hours and assign a result to a new variable, allTime

Then, the computer would read the...