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CS 315-01 Lecture/Lab Meeting Summary — Fall 2025

Date: November 11, 2025
Time: 08:11 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada)
Meeting ID: 886 4953 2573

Quick Recap

The session focused on planning and implementing programming and debugging concepts, especially for assembly language and processor functions. Key topics included:

  • Project 6 requirements, including data memory coverage
  • Incremental circuit construction starting from the Lab 10 spreadsheet
  • Testing procedures and debugging techniques (single-stepping, probes)
  • Circuit organization and readability
  • Proper documentation and mnemonic-based debugging

Next Steps

Action Items — Greg

  • Check during the break whether PC Select and WCD Select are always the same in the Project 6 spreadsheet.
  • Fix the -P command-line option to work with subdirectories for testing.
  • Update the FIBREC test to follow proper stack allocation conventions.
  • Check and fix the sort_S test; verify the array length parameter.
  • Post Quinn Brockmeyer’s student guide to Project 6.
  • Outline the load/store word and byte implementation in greater detail (tomorrow).
  • Demonstrate how to build a circuit that displays the mnemonic version of the current instruction (in the next lab section).

Action Items — Students

  • Create a spreadsheet with four sheets: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Final for Project 6.
  • Build Project 6 incrementally, using separate directories (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Final), each containing the full set of circuit files.
  • Get LD/SD working before implementing:
  • load word (LW)
  • store word (SW)
  • load byte (LB)
  • store byte (SB)

Summary

Assembly Language and Debugging Plans

  • The instructor emphasized the need to design programs that build understanding of assembly language and debugging.
  • Functions should be written to run correctly on the processor.
  • Data memory will be covered as part of Project 6.
  • A potential redundancy in the Lab 10 spreadsheet was identified and may be optimized.
  • A digital register is recommended in Project 6 to improve robustness and reduce potential issues.

Project 6 Circuit Building Guidelines

  • Circuits should be built incrementally, starting with the Lab 10 spreadsheet as the foundation for each part.
  • Avoid building the entire instruction decoder and data path at once to reduce debugging complexity.
  • Students must submit the lab PDF as required.
  • Directory structure for Project 6 should include:
  • Part 1
  • Part 2
  • Part 3
  • Final
    Each directory should contain the complete set of circuit files.

Project 6 Testing and Debugging

  • Tests must be run with explicit project specifications.
  • Circuits should be neat and readable:
  • Avoid overlapping components
  • Maintain clear spacing
  • Ensure component labeling and organization
  • Recommended debugging techniques:
  • Single-stepping
  • Using probes
  • Understanding each component’s role in instruction execution
  • The Read–Modify–Write pattern for storing data was introduced.
  • Mnemonic-based debugging will be demonstrated in the next lab session.