This text offers both the theoretical, machine-independent concepts underlying the construction of all computers, and a specific introduction to the assembly language and architecture of the widely used PDP-II. It discusses the major functional components of a computer - memory, ALU, input/output and processor - and how they are integrated into a complete computer system. The book describes and builds an idealized model of a computer and shows how the theoretical concepts are put into practice in the construction of the PDP. It integrates hardware concepts with software principles, introducing the student to internal systems programs used to run the computer.
