Computer Systems

By J. Stanley Warford

Book Overview

Computer Systems, Fifth Edition provides a clear, detailed, step-by-step introduction to the central concepts in computer organization, assembly language, and computer architecture. It urges students to explore the many dimensions of computer systems through a top-down approach to levels of abstraction. By examining how the different levels of abstraction relate to one another, the text helps students look at computer systems and their components as a unified concept. New & Key Features: - New high-order language -- The high-order language is changed from C++ to C. The C language is more common as a systems programming language and is more appropriate for a computer systems text. - New sidebars -- Each sidebar is a real-world example of the concepts described in that chapter. As most of the chapters describe the Pep/9 virtual machine, the sidebars for those chapters show corresponding implementations for the Intel x86 architecture. - New and expanded topics -- New and expanded topics include, QR codes, color displays, Unicode, UTF-32 and UTF-8 encoding, floating point underflow, big-endian and little-endian order, memory alignment issues, and expanded RISC design principles and MIPS coverage to contrast with the Pep/9 CISC design. - New virtual machine -- Pep/8, the virtual machine for the two previous editions, is now superseded by the new and improved Pep/9. Pep/9 retains the same eight addressing modes of Pep/8 but now includes memory-mapped I/O, an improved return-from-subroutine instruction, a new native compare-byte instruction, improved instruction mnemonics, and a new hexadecimal output trap instruction. - New software -- The Pep/9 system in the text is supported by two updated open source software applications, the assembler/simulator and the CPU simulator.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1284079635
• ISBN13: 9781284079630
• Release Date: March 2016
• Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Publishers
• Length: 824 Pages
• Weight: 3.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.9" x 7.5" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Very good book for programmers

As a programmer I'm really enjoying this book. It's an excellent book about computer architecture. I also teaches assembly language. If you are not already a programmer this is not the right book. This book uses C++ high level, and assumes you have some experience with a high level programming language (not necessarily C++)

CS Instructor from NY

I regularly teach CS1 and CS2, (as well as CSX)in the NYS SUNY system. We have a course between CS1 and CS2 (CS1.5?) This is a breadth course which also has a required programming component. I like the Warford text, as it provides a pretty good introduction to topics across the spectrum. I am not in love with the order, since I cover logic after data representation and the text has it at the end. Also, as with another review I saw, this text unfortunately does not use a real live assembly language. Since learning a pretend one is just as hard as learning a real one, I usually substitute a module on the intel-chip assembly language in place of the text coverage. All that said, this is the best book I could find. Most breadth- coverage texts are at level CS0, this one definitely is not.

A nice introduction to computer architecture

This book serves as a nice introduction to computer architecture, though those wishing to learn assembly language that they can actually apply in real-world applications will be disappointed, as the assembly language that's taught applies only to the virtual computer that is used with the book. The virtual computer, called the Pep/6, aids the student in learning about different addressing modes, language translation, etc. The book covers many other topics including boolean logic, language translation principles, different base numbering systems, etc. The book moves at a comfortable pace, and, coupled with good teaching, can potentially teach the student a good deal.