Computer Systems

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1001712BNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences

Department

Electronics and Informatics

Educational team

Peter Schelkens (course titular)
David Blinder
Raees Kizhakkumkara Muhamad

Activities and contact hours

26 contact hours Lecture
26 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals

Course Content

The binary representation of data in a computer
The translation of assembly language and high-level programming languages to machine language, compilers and interpreters
Machine instructions and addressing in a sequential computer
The stack machine: principles, evaluation of the basic elements of high-level programming languages (expressions, conditions, loops, function calls,…)
The register machine: principles, processing of the basic elements of high-level programming languages (expressions, conditions, loops, function calls,…)
Construction and operation of the essential electronic building blocks of a computer and processing of machine instructions in hardware (micro-architecture)
Memory hierarchy and caching, peripheral memory
Input-output interfaces: polling, interrupts, DMA
The operating system
- Memory management
- File management
- Process management
Exercises and programming project (programming in assembly language)

Course material

Digital course material (Required) : Slides en nota’s, Canvas
Handbook (Recommended) : Structured Computer Organization, Andrew S. Tanenbaum, 6de, Pearson Prentice Hall, 9780273769248, 2012
Handbook (Recommended) : Modern Operating Systems, Andrew S Tanenbaum, Albert S Woodhull, 4de, Pearson Prentice Hall, 9781292061429, 2014
Handbook (Recommended) : The Art of Assembly Language, Randall Hyde, 2de, no starch press, 9781593272074, 2010
Handbook (Recommended) : The Intel Microprocessors, Barry B. Brey, 8de, Pearson Prentice Hall, 9781292027371, 2013
Handbook (Recommended) : Computer Systems Design and Architecture, Vincent P. Heuring, Harry F. Jordan, 2de, BIB, 9780130484406, 2004

Additional info

Slides and notes are made available via the electronic learning platform Pointcarré.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Having a basic knowledge about and insight into the organization of computer systems, from hardware to operating system.

More specifically,

With respect to gaining knowledge and insight:
- Having knowledge about and insight into the representation of data in machines.
- Having knowledge of and insight into the electronic building blocks of computers.
- Having insight into the structure and execution of machine instructions in a simple sequential computer.
- Understanding the evaluation of expressions, conditions, loops and function calls as used in high-level programming languages at the level of the machine.
- Having insight into the organization of memory: memory hierarchies, caching and organization of peripheral memory.
- Understanding mechanisms for input-output handling: polling, interrupts, DMA.
- Understanding the basic roles of the operating system: process management, memory management and file management.
With respect to application of the knowledge and insight gained:
- Being able to write a functional, well-structured and well-documented program in assembly language.
With respect to decision taking:
- Based on the aforementioned knowledge and insights, being able to make choices between alternative solutions, being able to predict probable evolutions, being able to assess the benefits and drawbacks of different approaches.
With respect to communication:
- To be able to clearly express oneself, both orally and in writing, with respect to the aforementioned topics. To be able to properly document assembly language programs.
With respect to learning skills:
- To be able to learn about of a specific hardware architecture or operating system, starting from the knowledge and insights gained.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 60% of the final mark.
SELF Practical Assignment determines 40% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Theory with a relative weight of 60 which comprises 60% of the final mark.

Note: Oral examination with written preparation that includes 1 main question and 5 complementary questions covering other parts of the course. An overview of the assembly language instruction sets will be provided and can be used during the examination.

Within the SELF Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Project with a relative weight of 40 which comprises 40% of the final mark.

Note: Programming project in assembly language: quality and functioning of the software, reporting, presentation and defence

Additional info regarding evaluation

Oral examination with written preparation that includes 5 questions covering different parts of the course. An overview of the assembly language instruction sets will be provided and can be used during the examination.

Programming project in assembly language with scoring based on quality and functioning of the software, written report, the oral presentation and defense.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context