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Tutorials
Programming the SIMCO in Assembly Language

What Is A Computer? Computer Programming, The Purpose of All Computers

Building Simple Machines That Make Decisions

Getting Started Using Programmable Logic Devices


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Build and program a simple digital computer - About

When I was about 12 years old, I was introduced to programming in Quick Basic. Ever since that time, I have always wanted to know how to design and build my own simple digital computer. I wanted to know how one worked right down to the level of bits, bytes, and logic gates. About 15 years later I finally took the time to research and build one. I believe that it is probably one of the simplest programmable digital computers you can build. It contains 8 programming instructions, including the all important ability to conditionally jump to new locations in memory (An "IF - THEN" instruction).

This website explains how to build and program your own simple digital computer. It is a complete course and absolutely no prior knowledge of computer programming is required in order to follow it through from beginning to end. The astonishing fact about ALL modern day digital computers is that they are entirely built from 8 simple machines called logic gates. These gates are connected together like legos to create a computer or any other digital device. Perhaps an even more astonishing fact is that understanding how a logic gate works is probably even simpler than understanding arithmetic...thus my claim that if you know how to add and subtract, then you can learn how to design, build, and program your own simple digital computer.

Enjoy, and please send an email if you have any questions or comments to NoSpam AT SimpleDigitalComputer DOT COM (replace NoSpam with Chris)


You can download a simulator of the computer described on this website. This simulator will let you write and run your own assembly language programs, and watch what is going on inside of the computer's memory and registers. This simulator is available in the downloads section

© 2007 Chris Lind | Advertise on our site