This is my attempt at a public blog about a project that I basically started a couple of years ago. Publishing a blog, as far as I know, is like writing. I like to read a good written book, and I like to publish my ideas the same way. So this blog is an attempt to become a better writer, but also an attempt to get people interested in my project : designing and building a computer system and use an adapted Lisp as system language.
The things I currently have built are :
- A 32-bit ISA with 32 registers
- A simulator for the above ISA
- A Lisp like assembler
- Lots of documentation
I am currently busy on a compiler for an s-expression based language, which is to become the system language for the system. This language currently only supports 32-bit variables, no arrays and no structures.
When this compiler can be used to start writing system software which can be run on the simulator, it becomes time to learn FPGA design and buy a board which can accomodate the minimum things needed for implementing a computer system : keyboard, console, memory and storage. Using this, it should be possible to move from the simulator to a real, FPGA based, computer system.
And that describes somewhat the bounds of the project.
