How does the computer execute a program, Computer Engineering

Assignment Help:

Let's attempt to answer a fundamental question: 'How does the Computer execute a Program?' Let's describe this with the help of an example from higher level language domain.

Problem:  Write a program to add two numbers.

A sample C program (Assuming two fixed values of numbers as a = 5 and b = 2)

1.  #include < stdio.h >

2. main ()

3.    {

4.  int a =5, b=2, c;

5. c= a+b;

6. printf ("\n The added value is: % d", c);   

7.           }

Program at line 4 states variables which will be equal to 3 memory locations that are a, b and c.  At line 5 these variables are added along with at line 6 value of c is printed.

However how will these instructions be executed by CPU? First you have to compile this program to convert it to machine language. Though how will the machine instructions look like? Let's suppose a hypothetical instruction set of machines of a size of 16 binary digits (bits) data and instructions. Each one of the instruction of machine comprises two components: (a) Operation code which specifies the operation which is to be performed by instruction and (b) Address of operand in memory on that given operation is to be performed.

Let's further presume that size of operation code is supposed to be of six bits consequently rest 10 bits are for address of operand. Also the memory word size is presumed to be of 16 bits. Figure below shows instruction and data formats for this machine.  To simplify our discussion let's present operation code employing Mnemonics such as ADD, LOAD, STORE and signed decimal values for data and decimal values of operand addresses. 

756_How does the Computer execute a Program.png


Related Discussions:- How does the computer execute a program

Operation of micro-programmed control unit, Micro-instructions are stored i...

Micro-instructions are stored in control memory. Address register for control memory comprises the address of subsequent instruction which is to be read. Control memory Buffer Regi

Prepare a decision tree, A part of an aircraft engine can be given a test b...

A part of an aircraft engine can be given a test before installation.  The test has a 75% chance of revealing a defect if it is present, and the same chance of passing a sound part

What is secondary list, What is secondary list? It permits you to enha...

What is secondary list? It permits you to enhance the information presented in the basic list.  The user can, for example, select a line of the basic list for which he require

Learning weights in perceptrons, Learning Weights in Perceptrons - Artifici...

Learning Weights in Perceptrons - Artificial neural network In detail we will look at the learning method for weights in multi-layer networks next chapter. The following descri

Analysis of algorithms, Analysis of Algorithms For this task, each stu...

Analysis of Algorithms For this task, each student should do two things: An empirical analysis of the runtime and comparisons made for all algorithms as a function of input si

Communication between memory and the processor, How are instructions sent b...

How are instructions sent between memory and the processor? Both the instruction pointer (IP) and program counter (PC) utilized to holds the memory address of the next inst

Define wait protocol, Q. Define Wait protocol? The wait protocol is use...

Q. Define Wait protocol? The wait protocol is used for resolving conflicts that arise due to some multiprocessors requiring same resource. There are 2 kinds of wait protocols:

High level language program characteristics, Q. High Level Language Program...

Q. High Level Language Program Characteristics? So it is clear that new architectures must support high-level language programming. A high-level language system can be implemen

A* search - artificial intelligence, A* Search - artificial intelligence: ...

A* Search - artificial intelligence: A* search in the combines is the best parts of uniform cost search, namely the fact that it's optimal and complete, and the other best par

Hardware interrupts - computer architecture, Hardware interrupts: Har...

Hardware interrupts: Hardware interrupts -from I/O devices, processor, memory Software interrupts-produced by a program. Direct Memory Access (DMA)  Interrupt or Poll

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd