Design a simple processor in a logic simulator

Research question

You write thisOne question you can answer with data, narrow enough to finish in the time you have.

Hypothesis

You write thisWhat you expect to find, and why.

Variables

You write thisWhat you change or compare, what you measure, and what you hold constant.

Methodology

Compare single-cycle and multi-cycle designs for speed and gate count.

Data collection

You write thisSay what you will record, how many times, and how you will keep the records safe.

Analysis

You write thisChoose the table, chart or test that answers the question; report averages with their spread.

Limitations

You write thisList what could have affected the result: small sample, instrument limits, things you could not control.

Literature review

Find five to eight sources (your textbook, review articles, reports) and note what each says about your question. Group them by idea, not one after another, and end with what is still not known.

References

List every source you used in one style throughout (author, year, title, where it was published, link and the date you opened it).

Use this as the outline of your README or case study.

Problem

In a free logic simulator you can build a working computer from gates: an arithmetic unit, registers, memory and a control unit that steps through fetch, decode and execute.

Why it matters

Nothing explains how a computer works as well as building one that runs your own program.

What was built

A working processor, its instruction table and a program running on it.

Technology

Circuit simulator

Architecture

You write thisOne diagram: the parts and how data moves between them.

Implementation

You write thisThe 6 build steps in your own words, with one code or design decision you are proud of.

Challenges

You write thisThe hardest bug or decision, and how you got past it.

Results

Step the clock by hand and check the register values after every instruction.

Demo and code

You write thisA link to a live demo or a short video, and to the GitHub repository.

Lessons learned

You write thisWhat you would do differently next time.

Future improvements

Add a stack, subroutine calls and a simple assembler.

Problem

In a free logic simulator you can build a working computer from gates: an arithmetic unit, registers, memory and a control unit that steps through fetch, decode and execute.

Target user

You write thisOne specific person: who they are and when they would use this.

Solution

Build an 8-bit processor with an ALU, registers and a control unit, and run a small program on it.

First version (MVP)

Build only a 4-bit ALU and test it.

Tech stack

Circuit simulator

Architecture

You write thisA quick sketch of the parts and how they connect.

Demo

Step the clock by hand and check the register values after every instruction.

Stretch goals

Add a stack, subroutine calls and a simple assembler.

Team roles

FrontendBackendData or modelDesignTestingDocumentationPresentation

Plan by length