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| <big>'''DIY Calculator HW Project'''</big> | <big>'''DIY Calculator HW Project'''</big> | ||
| - | Based on the [http://www.diycalculator.com Virtual DIY Calculator] presented in the book [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0471732788 “How Computers Do Math“] a physical implementation is done (as it is suggested in chapter 6). | + | This Wiki supports a physical implementation of the [http://www.diycalculator.com Virtual DIY Calculator], which accompanies the book [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0471732788 “How Computers Do Math“]. (A fully-functional copy of the software - along with demos and tutorials - is available for free from the "Downloads" page of the [http://www.diycalculator.com DIY Calculator] website.) |
| - | For a project overview see the [http://diycalculator.pcl.at/index.php/DIY-Calculator_Hardware:Community_Portal Community portal] | + | For an overview of this project, please visit the [http://diycalculator.pcl.at/index.php/DIY-Calculator_Hardware:Community_Portal Community Portal] |
| == The DIY Calculator == | == The DIY Calculator == | ||
| - | The heart of the DIY Calculator is a simple 8bit [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_instruction_set_computer CISC]-type CPU with a primary register (accumulator), a status register, an index register for indirect addressing, a stack pointer register, and an instruction pointer register. The simple design of this CPU makes it an ideal object for students or interested people who want to learn about the principles modern computers are based on. | + | The book [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0471732788 "How Computers Do Math"] is accompanied by a CD-ROM containing the virtual DIY Calculator, which includes a complete development system (assembler, simulator, and debugger). The CD-ROM also contains all of the interactive laboratories (as PDFs) and images (as PowerPoint slides) in the book - along with many other materials - for use by educators at schools and universities. |
| - | The book [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0471732788 "How Computers Do Math"] is accompanied by a CD-ROM which contains a complete development system (assembler, simulator, debugger) for this CPU. You can immediately start writing and testing programs thus exploring the world of microprocessors. The only drawback of the DIY Calculator as it is presented by the book is that it only exists virtually inside the PC's memory. | + | At the heart of the DIY Calculator is a simple 8-bit [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_instruction_set_computer CISC]-type CPU with a primary register (accumulator), a status register, an index register for indirect addressing, a stack pointer register, and an instruction pointer register. The simple design of this CPU makes it an ideal object for students and anyone else who wishes to learn about the principles upon which modern computers are based. |
| - | The '''DIY Calculator Hardware Project''' fills this gap bringing a physical device to your desktop. | + | The primary interface to the DIY Calculator is a calculator front panel, comprising buttons and displays. The book guides the reader in creating simple programs and running them on the virtual DIY Calculator. Eventually, the reader creates a program for a simple four-function calculator (+, -, *, /). |
| + | |||
| + | The only drawback to the DIY Calculator as it is presented in the book is that it exists only as a virtual machine inside your PC's memory. The '''DIY Calculator Hardware Project''' fills this gap by bringing a physical implementation of the DIY Calculator to your desktop. The idea is that you can create and test your programs in the virtual world, and then download them into the physical DIY Calculator. | ||
Revision as of 14:36, 19 July 2006
DIY Calculator HW Project
This Wiki supports a physical implementation of the Virtual DIY Calculator, which accompanies the book “How Computers Do Math“. (A fully-functional copy of the software - along with demos and tutorials - is available for free from the "Downloads" page of the DIY Calculator website.)
For an overview of this project, please visit the Community Portal
The DIY Calculator
The book "How Computers Do Math" is accompanied by a CD-ROM containing the virtual DIY Calculator, which includes a complete development system (assembler, simulator, and debugger). The CD-ROM also contains all of the interactive laboratories (as PDFs) and images (as PowerPoint slides) in the book - along with many other materials - for use by educators at schools and universities.
At the heart of the DIY Calculator is a simple 8-bit CISC-type CPU with a primary register (accumulator), a status register, an index register for indirect addressing, a stack pointer register, and an instruction pointer register. The simple design of this CPU makes it an ideal object for students and anyone else who wishes to learn about the principles upon which modern computers are based.
The primary interface to the DIY Calculator is a calculator front panel, comprising buttons and displays. The book guides the reader in creating simple programs and running them on the virtual DIY Calculator. Eventually, the reader creates a program for a simple four-function calculator (+, -, *, /).
The only drawback to the DIY Calculator as it is presented in the book is that it exists only as a virtual machine inside your PC's memory. The DIY Calculator Hardware Project fills this gap by bringing a physical implementation of the DIY Calculator to your desktop. The idea is that you can create and test your programs in the virtual world, and then download them into the physical DIY Calculator.
