Computer systems
Undergraduate · CS / Programming
Syllabus focus
Standard syllabus · STEM / applied
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$60.00 · 60 min · Undergraduate · Online ($60/hr)
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Topics typically covered
Standard syllabus
Machine and assembly
- Bits, bytes, and data representation (integers, floats)
- Boolean algebra and combinational logic (intro)
- Instruction set architecture and assembly programming
- Control flow, procedures, and the stack in assembly
- Memory hierarchy: registers, cache, RAM, disk
Processes and linking
- Virtual memory, paging, and address translation (intro)
- Processes vs threads; context switching
- System calls and the OS kernel interface (intro)
- Compilation pipeline: preprocess, compile, assemble, link
- Object files, symbols, and linking/loading
STEM / applied
Performance and security at the metal
- Cache-aware programming and locality
- Pipelining and branch prediction (survey)
- Buffer overflows and basic exploit mitigations (intro)
- Endianness and portable binary formats
- Profiling at the instruction and cache level
Labs and tools
- GDB/debuggers and disassemblers for low-level debugging
- Writing small C programs with pointers and memory management
- Makefiles and build systems for multi-file projects
- Measuring program performance with hardware counters (intro)
- Embedded or bare-metal exercises (optional at some schools)
Notes
Often paired with an OS course later. Lab-heavy sections vary by whether the course uses C, RISC-V, or x86.