How do computers work?

>>8661931
Nobody knows for sure. The first computers came seemingly out of nowhere in the early 1940s and have been improved on that basic design ever since.

>>8661934
So it was aliens?

>>8661931
Its not patented knowledge, its just a very complex system.

If you really wanna learn, start with basics of electroengineering, learn what bistabiles are, learn about logic gates, flip-flops, and then get a good book on computer architecture.

You still wont completely understand it but it should be enough to soothe your curiosity.

>t. CS student with engineering background

>>8661938
It was aliens.

You get a bad explanation because you do not have enough knowledge to understand a thorough one.

1) Learn how a transistor works.
2) Learn how you construct a logic gate from transistors.
3) Learn how a logic gate works.
4) Learn Boolean algebra and 2s compliment.
5) Using (3) and (4), learn how registers, adders, multiplexers work.
6) Using (5) understand how an arithmetic logic unit works.
7) Using (6) and (5) learn how a CPU works
8) Learn the workings of general computer architectures to understand how the CPU links to the other parts.
9) Learn about machine code
10) Learn about basic assemblers and compilers and formal grammars (recursive descent etc).

t. Electronics and comp eng.

>>8661931

You get a handwavy explanation because it would take 10 tomes to fully explain all the mechanisms of how a computer functions.

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>>8661931
Learn about logic circuits.

> Is the exact mechanism of how a computer works patented knowledge
Patents are public. That aside there are plenty of books and explanations on the subject.

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>>8661931
>>8661979
You can literally build rudimentary electronic circuits from kits. Logic circuits are the basic building blocks of digital computing.

>>8661955
Are there desktop computers simple enough you can use them and understand everything about them?

>>8661931
http://4chan-science.wikia.com/wiki/Computer_Science_and_Engineering#Computer_Architecture_and_Digital_Logic

>>8661988

Start with digital clocks or calculators.

>>8661931
computers are just as complex as human bodies. its really just an intricate system of switches that allow me to watch porn.

You see, Anon, computers are pretty self-explanatory; they compute. That's what they do. They make a lot of calculations per second. A lot of them. If you take a magnifying glass and point it to your monitor, you'll see that it's actually just showing ones and zeroes. That's it. The colour you are seeing is from the chemicals that the government puts in your water. Life is a lie. Beep boop.

Be vigilant.
Gods peed.

>>8661931
If not shitpost, read this:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code:_The_Hidden_Language_of_Computer_Hardware_and_Software

>>8661931

The central processing unit (CPU) is the heart of computing. The CPU is a very primitive calculator that performs operations (e.g. adding, multiplying) binary numbers together instead of decimal numbers.

The results are stored (e.g. file on your hard drive), sent to output devices so the output devices can respond appropriately (e.g. display a pixel on your monitor), etc.

The flow of the computer is controlled/synchronized against a clock. Every tick of the clock (i.e. cycle) forces the computer to update, mainly another CPU calculation is performed.

Now we test your interest level in the topic, because, if you are really interested, you can follow a tutorial to build a 4bit CPU in Minecraft,

https://www.youtube.com/user/Sw1Ftx16/videos?view=0&flow=grid&sort=da

The demo of the final CPU shows the fibonacci sequence being calculated,

https://youtu.be/m2VnanVoK5Q?t=1102

If you are really, really interested, you can download these Minecraft demos and "physically" walk around and explore the inside of these in-game, custom built, simple computers.

>>8661939
This. I know how computers work
t. EE Highschool and CS University student

>>8661984
I'm interested. How does that work?

So black and red are always power lines.

What happens if I connect a lightbulb into the "or" gate?

>>8661931
The problem is similar to asking how a modern car is build from scratch, except you can't quite grip some of the components needed since these aren't ~hard ware~.

Basically you have electrical switches that tell you something like "YES|NO" when asked small questions (but then again, these questions are too detailed for a valid analogy here). You combine these switches over and over to achieve something more complex.

I guess an electrical engineer could explain to you the switches part but not necessarily the part up to software and with the CS-types its the other way round.

But the mechanical engineer designing the gears in a car (or whatever, no expert) also doesn't necessarily know the chemical processes in depth for the materials he uses, or its manufacturing processes. Similar thing there.


But, the real truth is actually that Turing was an alien.

If u didn't build minecraft computers in Redstone as a youth u have no hope

>>8662372
>Minecraft came out 2009
>'youth'

>>8662387
Exactly, beware of the genius anon.

>>8661934

It's obvious bait, but just so everybody knows, this is completely 100% false. We have exact documents showing the thought process and methods of the people who initially figured it out. I know every bit about how computers work. Ask me anything.

>>8662029

I build a couple minecraft computers when I was 13/14.

Here's the final result doing the fibberoino noche sequence. IMO mine looks cooler.

>>8662407
Forgot link

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rTBHXvqPEZQ

>>8662408

Damn. You weren't kidding. I wouldn't have guessed that was Minecraft, but, none-the-less, that does look pretty badass.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EKWGGDXe5MA

>>8661931
I think I didn't really feel like I understood how computers work until I was halfway through college. At this point in my career they seem kinda simple, but any explanation I give would probably seem inadequate to you.

>>8662029
This explanation sucks. It misses the concept of the storeable program and instruction increment.

>>8661931
Computer Engineer here. Everyone else shut the fuck up and let the big boys handle this.

What we invented is very simple. We were able to clone the pope and then reduce his size. Then we created pope circuits, as in circuits made of mini popes. Every time you input something, that input reaches an available mini-pope who then prays to Jesus so that the output responds accordingly to your input.

Some basics:

More RAM: More popes
More memory: Higher IQ popes
Faster processing: More fit popes

>>8662568

Bravo

>>8662399
How do I interact with a kernel running on an FPGA?

If you want an easy to understand answer, it's going to be very simple, because modern computers themselves are incredibly complex and the result of decades of accumulation of knowledge and development from thousands of smart people, many of whom specialize in one particular component area of the computer and don't really know that much about the rest.

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It's simple.
Computers are magic artifacts wielded by wizards. You'll understand once you turn 30.

>>8662605
it really depends how you've got your core configured. the kernel is a piece of software that runs in an embedded soft core(cpu+memory+glue letting them interact+peripherals) which is synthesized into an RTL tile configuration for the FPGA.

Since FPGA is very flexible, you could build a peripheral to support virtually any digital interface format, even emulating to use formats that your OS lacks drivers to support

with that said, if you're looking for a rrecommendation, an FTDI chip and UART are easy, although i know others who prefer ethernet and UDP

No one here knows because everyone things CS is for brainlets

>>8662708
other fields just jealous of our massive girthy throbbing compensation

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>>8662519

Yeah, I wrote the post. Yeah, I agree with you.

Now this mother-fucker >>8662568, this anon is a savant, simply inspirational.

In fact, I have been carrying a heavy load around with me. I think it is about time to have a little confessional between me, my mini popes, and a nice box of smooth, lavender scented Kleenex.

>>8662719
agree
his autism gives him powers above and beyond mere mortals

>>8662063
black is ground you microbrain