F27CX - Introduction to Computer Systems

Course leader(s):

Idris Skloul Ibrahim (Edinburgh, January)

Aims

To introduce students to modern computer systems architecture.

To give students an appreciation of logical design and data representation.

Syllabus

1. - Hardware components - peripherals, memory & CPU.Boolean algebra. Low-level information representation. CPU organisation. Introductory assembly language programming.

2. -Operating system: I/O; interrupts; scheduler; virtual memory; file system. Concurrency: processes; threads; synchronisation; shared & distributed memory; distributed & parallel architectures. Language processors: compiler; interpreter; assembler; loader.

3. - Linux shell scripting

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students should be able to do the following:

Explain the hardware/software hierarchy in contemporary computer systems (modern-day computing environments that encompass both hardware and software components).
Describe the purpose and function of major system hardware and software components.
Understand and articulate the principles of information representation in computer systems.
Develop and write scripts to automate tasks and manage system operations.

Further details

Curriculum explorer: Click here

SCQF Level: 7

Credits: 15