Welcome!

This is the externally accessible web-page for COMS10015: Computer Architecture, a unit operated by the School of Computer Science, University of Bristol (UoB). Quoting the catalogue entry, the remit of this unit can be summarised as follows:

[…] this unit delivers an introduction to computer architecture: the focus is on bridging the gap between high-level programming languages and the hardware (e.g., micro-processors) on which associated programs execute. The unit content can be described as three main topics, which gradually build from lower to higher level concepts:

  1. From Mathematics and Physics to digital logic:
    • Boolean algebra, integer representation and arithmetic,
    • physical design of logic components (e.g., logic gates from transistors),
    • use of combinatorial logic components (e.g., Karnaugh maps),
    • use of sequential logic components (e.g., state machines).
  2. From digital logic to computer processors:
    • processor paradigms: counter, accumulator, and register machines; von Neumann vs. Harvard architecture; RISC vs. CISC,
    • memory paradigms: von Neumann bottleneck, memory hierarchy; cache memories,
    • instruction set design: instruction classes; addressing modes; instruction encoding and decoding,
    • processor design: buses; control and data paths; ALU; microcoded vs. hardwired control; fetch-decode-execute cycle.
  3. From computer processors to software applications:
    • development tools: assembly language; assembly and linkage processes; debuggers,
    • support for structured programming (e.g., function calls),
    • support for operating systems (e.g., interrupts, protection).

Note that

  • An associated GitHub-based repo. houses the source code for this web-page, plus various other resources which might be useful.
  • Although the goal is to provide “Blackboard-free” access to as much static content as possible, selected internal-facing dynamic content is only accessible via the associated Blackboard web-page: important examples include any unit announcements, the unit forum, and any submission points, marks, and feedback related to assessment.

Contact Us