CISC 260: Machine Organization and Microcomputers

Catalog Description:
Introduction to the basics of machine organization. Programming tools and technique s at the machine and assembly levels. Assembly language programming.

Current Texts:
Sparc Architecture, Assembly Language Programming and C
Richard Paul
Prentice Hall

Goals:
This course introduces basic concepts of representation of data and instructions at levels close to that of the physical machine.

Content:
An introduction to the following topics:

• Number Representation - binary representation schemes for integer and real numbers, octal and hexadecimal encoding schemes
• Machine Level Arithmetic
• Machine Language and Machine Organization
• Assembly Language Programming:
  • Program control, including looping and branching and the use of registers
  • Addressing modes
  • Data Structures (arrays, linked lists)
  • Subroutines
  • Input/output
  • Interrupts and Traps

Prerequisites: A minimum grade of C- in CISC 181 (Introduction to Computer Science) or CISC 120 (Object Oriented Programming in C++).

Recommended Background: CISC 220: (Data Structures)