Build a Computer from Scratch
summary
A tiny 8‑register, 8‑bit CPU is specified and implemented as a simulator that visualizes fetch‑decode‑execute steps, registers, flags (Z/N) and a stack. The instruction word is 16 bits (4‑bit opcode, 3‑bit register, 1‑bit mode, 8‑bit immediate); the demo implements push/pop stack calling convention, conditional jumps using Z/N flags, and simple macros for push/pop/call, and outlines porting the design to VHDL/FPGA for real hardware.
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chapters (20)
- 0:00Project introduction
- 1:27Why this question
- 2:51What is a computer
- 8:13Arithmetic logic unit
- 12:08CPU structure
- 13:53Instruction representation
- 25:51Fetch-decode-execute cycle
- 33:52Demo pause
- 34:14Variable assignment
- 41:51Von Neumann memory model
- 43:56Stack operation
- 50:10Push instruction
- 1:00:52Pop data retrieval
- 1:07:10Conditions and flags
- 1:18:49Loops and repeats
- 1:26:22Functions and calls
- 1:41:56Optimized function return
- 1:51:03Register management
- 1:54:08Stack Overflow and recursion
- 1:57:22Conclusion and resources
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