1. Computer Basics/Algorithms
INFO/CSE 100, Fall 2006
Fluency in Information Technology
Oct 18
fit algorithms

2. Readings and References
Fluency with Information Technology
Chapters 9, 10
Oct 18
fit algorithms

3. Overview
During this quarter, we're looking at the actual workings of computer systems
Organized as “layers of abstraction”
application programs
higher level languages: Javascript, SQL, …
operating system concepts
bits, bytes, assembly language
transistors, electrons, photons
Oct 18
fit algorithms

4. Layers of Abstraction At any level of abstraction, there are
elements at that level
the building blocks for those elements
Abstraction
isolates a layer from changes in the layer below
improves developer productivity by reducing detail needed to accomplish a task
computers themselves are abstractions
Oct 18
fit algorithms

5. Computers are like cars
Architecture (rules / abilities / commands)
Forward
Break
Turn Left
Turn Right
Organization (the physical components)
Rubber wheels
4 Cylinder / 6 Cylinder engine
Disk breaks, drum breaks?
Frame - truck / car
Oct 18
fit algorithms

6. PC Architecture & Organization
Architecture (the logical definition)
Rules of the system, what are the abilities
Instruction Set Architecture (x86, ARM, PowerPC)
Organization (the physical implementation)
components and connections (drives, memory, Input/Output cards, etc…)
how instructions are implemented in hardware
many different organizations can implement a single architecture (AMD vs Intel)
Oct 18
fit algorithms

7. Computer Architecture
Specification of how to program a specific computer family
what instructions are available?
how are the instructions formatted into bits?
how many registers and what is their function?
how is memory addressed?
Some examples architectures
IBM 360, 370, …
PowerPC 601, 603, G5, …
Intel x86 286, 386, 486, Pentium, …
MIPS R2000, R3000, R4000, R5000, ...
The example architectures are generally named after their processor chips…
Oct 18
fit algorithms

8. Computer Organization
Processor
Arithmetic Logical Unit (ALU) manipulates the bits
The control, controls the manipulation
Memory
cache memory - smaller, higher speed
main memory (RAM) - larger, slower speed
Input / Output
interface to the rest of the world
The physical organization…
Oct 18
fit algorithms

9. A Typical Organization
main
memory
processor
processor/memory bus
A bus is path for electrical signals…
I/O bus
hard
disk
floppy
disk
CDROM
drive
serial
ports
network
interface
Oct 18
fit algorithms

10. Anatomy of a Computer ALU Control Input Mouse Keyboard Scanner
Processor
ALU
Control
Input
Mouse
Keyboard
Scanner
Hard Disk
Floppy Disk
Monitor
Printer
Speakers
Memory
Output
Oct 18
fit algorithms

11. Computers… Deterministically execute instructions
“Deterministically” means that when a computer chooses the next instruction to perform it will make the choice the same way each time
Given the program instructions and the current input, you can always predict exactly which instruction will be executed next and what it will do
When the computer is faced with the same set of choices and the same inputs, it will always make the same choice choosing the next instruction!
Computers are not creative, have no imagination, have no intuition.
Computers have no free will and they are not random!
Oct 18
fit algorithms

12. Fetch / Execute Cycle Get Instruction Figure out what to do
Gather the data needed to do it
Do it
Save the result
Do it again…
Oct 18
fit algorithms

13. Fetch/Execute Cycle A Computer is an instruction execution engine
The fetch/execute cycle is process that executes instructions
Instruction Fetch (IF)
Instruction Decode (ID)
Data Fetch (DF)
Instruction Execution (EX)
Result Return (RR)
Go through each of the instructions…
Oct 18
fit algorithms

14. Memory ...
Programs and the data they operate on must be in the memory while they are running
Memory locations
memory addresses G 1 o 2 D 3 a 4 w 5 g 6 s 7 ! 8 ! 9 10 11
...
memory contents
byte=8 bits 1 1
Oct 18
fit algorithms

15. Control
The Fetch/Execute cycle is hardwired into the computer’s control, i.e. it is the actual “engine”
Depending on the Instruction Set Architecture, the instructions say things like
Put in memory location 20 the contents of memory location 10 + contents of memory location 16
The instructions executed have the form ADDB 10, 16, 20
Add the bytes from memory address 10 and memory address 16 and store the result in memory address 20
The computer doesn’t know the value of memory addresses 10 and 16, until it retrieves the data, nor does it care.
Referring to a value, by referencing the memory address is fundamental to a computer’s versatility. The contents of the memory addresses can change. 6 10 11 12 13 14 15 12 16 17 18 19 18 20 21
...
Oct 18
fit algorithms

16. ALU The Arithmetic/Logic Unit does the actual computation
Depending on the Instruction Set Architecture, each type of data has its own separate instructions
ADDB : add bytes ADDBU : add bytes unsigned
ADDH : add half words ADDHU : add halves unsigned
ADD : add words ADDU : add words unsigned
ADDS : add short decimal numbers
ADDD : add long decimal numbers
Most computers have only about a instructions hard wired
Oct 18
fit algorithms

17. The PC’s PC
The program counter (PC) tells where the next instruction comes from
In some architectures, instructions are always 4 bytes long, so add 4 to the PC to find the next instruction
Program Counter:
Every PC has a PC!
PC + 4 = the next instruction
If there is no instruction the computers have a kind of idle loop to wait
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
ADD 210,216,220
AND 414,418,720 OR
...
Oct 18
fit algorithms

18. Input/Output
Input units bring data to memory from outside world; output units send data to outside world from memory
Most peripheral devices are “dumb”, meaning that the processor assists in their operation they need a driver…
For example: when you type Shift-W on a keyboard, the keyboard doesn’t capitalize the letter…
It sends both a shift and w keys to the computer and the processor turns it into a capital W.
A device driver is the software that processes the input devices input. The CDs you get when you buy new hardware, come with a device driver.
Oct 18
fit algorithms

19. Clocks Run The Engine
The rate that a computer “spins around” the Fetch/Execute cycle is controlled by its clock
Current clocks run 2-3 GHz
The computer tries do at least one instruction per cycle, depending on the instruction and the availability of memory contents
Modern processors often try to do more than one instruction per cycle
Clock rate is not a good indicator of speed anymore, because several things are happening every clock cycle
Oct 18
fit algorithms

20. Programming
Converting the complicated tasks we want the computer to do into simple instructions
Computers can be programmed to convert the complex into the simple
Computers only understand binary digits
Developers created assembly language as a convenient form for instructions
For example; ADDD 2000, 8000, 4000
Translation from assembly to binary is called assembling
High-level languages are used to complete more complex tasks easily
Translation from a programming language to assembly is called compilation
Examples of high-level programming languages are C, Smalltalk, C++, and Java.
Oct 18
fit algorithms

21. Algorithm Algorithm How to make a PB&J sandwich
a precise, systematic method to produce a desired result
How to make a PB&J sandwich
Get out Peanut Butter If PB has screw on cap Twist counter clockwise until cap comes off If there is paper covering PB Remove paper Open drawers search for knife Until knife found ……
Oct 18
fit algorithms

22. Properties of an Algorithm
For an algorithm to be well specified it must have …
Inputs specified
The range of possible inputs is well defined
Outputs specified
The desired output is well defined
Definiteness
The steps to take are definite and understandable
Effectiveness
The steps must be possible to accomplish
Finiteness
A processor that follows the algorithm will eventually finish
Oct 18
fit algorithms

23. Communicating…
People can fill in missing steps, but can get swamped by lots of details and clutter
Computers cannot fill in missing steps, but can manage lots and lots of detail without error
What helps when communicating with computers?
Be organized and consistent in all the details
Invent abstractions to help specify the basic ideas accurately and consistently
Analyze your algorithm and its implementation, because you won’t get to interact later
Communicating with people is not the same as communicating with computers!
Oct 18
fit algorithms

24. Example: Directions to the Bookstore
To another student
To a robot
Go past the library and walk up the Ave to the Bookstore
Exit this room. Turn right. Proceed to elevator entrance hall. Turn right. Call elevator ...
The student operates at a higher level of abstraction with a richer vocabulary of shorthands
An algorithm is a plan for how to accomplish a task
A program is an implementation of an algorithm
Good algorithms (at any level of abstraction) require precision
Oct 18
fit algorithms

25. Algorithm Analysis: Which one?
Many different algorithms may correctly solve a given task, which is better?
can it be implemented with available equipment?
will it complete within this lifetime?
will it require gigabytes of memory?
Oct 18
fit algorithms

26. Programs vs Algorithms
A program is an algorithm specialized to a particular situation
Automobile car = new Automobile("BMW", "M3", Automobile.LHD);
for (int iX=0; iX<4; iX++)
car.append(new Tyre);
car.tank.insert(40);
car.door.open(Automobile.Front, car.lhd ? Automobile.LEFT : Automobile.RIGHT);
car.set.fill(Automobile.Front, car.lhd ? Automobile.LEFT : Automobile.RIGHT, new Driver(me));
car.door.close(Automobile.Front, car.lhd ? Automobile.LEFT : Automobile.RIGHT);
car.pedal[car.isAutomatic? 0 : 1].depress(PEDAL.FULL); // Step on brake
if (car.ignition.hasKey()) {
car.ignition.key.insertKey();
car.ignition.key.turnKey(KEY.ON);
car.ignition.key.turnKey(KEY.START);
} else {
car.ignition.button.push(); }
car.pedal[car.isAutomatic? 1 : 2].depress(PEDAL.SMALL); // Gentle with the gas
Oct 18
fit algorithms

27. Programming as Communication
When we write a program, we are communicating with
the computer
other people
The computer reads our program as the set of instructions that it should perform
It just needs to know how, not why
Other people read our programs to understand how and why
Programs that don't work (bugs)
Program evolution - new features
Performance improvement
Oct 18
fit algorithms

28. Algorithm to Alphabetize Soda
define variable named Soda
use Soda to refer to the name of the Soda
for all slots in the rack starting at one end
call the current slot alpha
for all the remaining slots in the rack
call the next slot beta
Exchange?
If Soda name in the beta slot is earlier in the
alphabet than the Soda name in the alpha slot,
interchange the bottles
next beta
next alpha
done
Oct 18
fit algorithms

29. Summary
We can figure out many algorithms on our own, abstracting from specific cases
We can learn from others who have studied particular algorithms in depth
We abstract parts of an algorithm or program to understand them
Thinking of how the program works and reasoning about its properties allows us to know why an algorithm works … and then we can get the computer to do it for us
Oct 18
fit algorithms