May not be offered in 1999
6 points - Three 1-hour lectures per week, one 1-hour tutorial and one 2-hour laboratory class per week - Second semester - Clayton - Prerequisites: CSC1011 or CSC1021 or CSE1301 - Prohibition: BUS2120, CSC1030, CSE1303, DGS1400, RDT1400
Objectives On completion of the subject, students should understand how computers work in terms of their underlying machine model and how such a model can be implemented from simple components; and be able to write programs in machine language.
Synopsis The following topics are studied, with particular reference to commercially available processor architectures: processors, storage, stored problems, fetch-execute cycle, instructions, machine languages, assembly languages, compilation, architectural styles, program control, branching, selection, looping, machine operating, indirection, indexing, addressing modes, subroutines, and introduction to elements of operating systems such as DOS, Windows and UNIX. These topics are developed and reinforced through frequent programming exercises which illustrate the concepts.
Assessment Examination (3 hours): 70% - Mid-semester test (1 hour): 10% - Assignments: 10% - Practical examination: 10% - Compulsory laboratory classes: students must attend 80% of the laboratory classes to be permitted to sit the examinations
Recommended texts
Deitel H M and Deitel P J C: How to program
Prentice-Hall, 1994
Tanenbaum A S Structured computer organisation 3rd edn, Prentice-Hall,
1990