Building a Computer With Nand2Tetris

My journey of learning computer science and engineering through the Nand2Tetris course of Hebrew University of Jerusalem on Coursera, at age 40.

[build-a-computer]

Finished lectures of Week 1 yesterday

Boolean algebra I was able to grasp and most of what which followed, like Logic gates. Basically, what I would say that I could abstract the things, in CS way.

HDL, I am a bit confused, because I have not yet read the documentation, it involves only listing the parts, as far as the video is concerned, now where it is shown how the parts actually works, once the interface is given ie in the HDL.

Probably it is in the guide.

One more abstraction which I learnt was API, which is basically another word for “Interface”, so no more sweats with that word again.

Also, “Abstraction” is basically “what it is”, rather than “How it was done?”, I remember many a times fussing over the fact that since I dont really understand how the stuff was made, I would be really never be able to know, what it is or what it could do?

Mostly, this was the reason of myself giving up, so many lessons...

Abstraction and Modulation are the two most important concepts of computer science, I learnt in week 1 lectures.

There are 15 gates to be made, and I am sweating over it, but I have enough time to do it, once I understand HDL properly.

Also, I would not be able to submit this assignment since I am not a paid student.

[build-a-computer]

First few chapters of “Code”

Went through first 10 chapters of the book, “Code: The hidden language of computers” and it has been such a pleasure.

Seeing everything coming from flashlights to Braille code and then Morse code and then how actually the Boolean logic might have just evolved from Morse Code was fascinating. Also the primer on the number system.

[build-a-computer]

Finished with Project 0. In fact, grader allowed me to submit and it gave *me points also for the same. But I dont think, that means that I would have that included in my course progress. But even then, it is good enough for me. thanks so very much, nand2tetris team.

[build-a-computer]

Course Sign up

Signed up for the Nand2Tetris Part1 on Coursera yesterday and finished watching the lecture of Week 0. The bottoms up approach is amazing to teach about computer programming and computer systems. I looked for some accompanying material to go along with the book and found 6.004 of OCW MIT and 6.00.2x of EdX relevant and intend to pursue them. Along with it I intend to refer to some books for also both for theory and problems: 1. Agarwal and Lang 2. Millman and Halkias 3. Boylstead and Nashenshky 4. Code by Charles Petzrold I downloaded the software suite also. Since I am not a paid student, so I would not be able to post assignment, but I may even become a paid student, within the deadline.