CS-1Q: Computer Systems Introduction

Rationale

The CS1Q course provides a coherent picture, top to bottom, of computer systems. This includes an introductory overview of computer hardware and architectures. For intending honours students, this will provide an introduction to many areas of computing science, and give a broader perspective to some of the topics covered in CS1P. For non-continuing students, the syllabus attempts to answer the question ``What should the well-educated person understand about computing?''; it is not a superficial introduction, but covers the above topics in non-trivial detail.

Aims

To give students an understanding of the structure of a computer system at a range of levels: logic gates, functional units within the CPU, functional units within the computer, the operating system, the high-level programmer's view, networks

Objectives

On completion of the course, the student should:

• understand the construction of CPU components from logic circuits and be able to design logic circuits to implement simple functions
• understand the execution of machine language programs by the CPU in terms of the fetch-execute cycle and be able to explain how the components of the CPU are involved in executing a given fragment of high-level code
• understand the relationship between the operating system, high-level programming languages, and applications, and be able to explain how the components of a computer system are involved in the running of a typical application
• understand the principles of networking, including local networks and the internet, and be able to explain the computation and communication steps involved in transmitting an email message and accessing a web page

Systems Content

Logic gates, circuits representing boolean expressions. Karnaugh maps. Simple combinational circuits, full adder, ripple-carry adder. Flip-flops and registers. Use of flip-flops to implement finite state machines (basic idea only). Data representation, memory organisation. The CPU, a simple instruction set, the fetch-execute cycle. Computer organisation. Estimation of execution times. Compilers, simple expressions and control structures in low-level code. Services provided to programs by the operating system. Elementary file organisation. Networks and the internet.

Assessment

The Systems component of the CS1Q courses is assessed by an open exercise and by two different questions in the end of year exam. Further details about these may be found on the CS1Q main page.