Re: can't load chip

Posted by cliverlong on Dec 28, 2022; 8:38am
URL: http://nand2tetris-questions-and-answers-forum.52.s1.nabble.com/can-t-load-chip-tp4036223p4037003.html

Thank-you for taking the time to write and explain the background to the development of the Nand2Tetris software and project. Would that the moderators on StackOverflow be so helpful.

First, I think to make such a simulator so freely available as a teaching and learning aid is a tremendous act by the people who have contributed. Even in the first two chapters of the book, I have started to think about and understand that often stated, but rarely explained, phrase “All gates can be built from NAND (or NOR ) gates”. Also, for me the table that explains the basic operation of an ALU by use of “micro instructions” and selectors has transformed my understanding of the operation of this part of the CPU. Yes, all software has bugs, or at least features the user would wish changed.

I recognise the software development isn’t commercial and was mainly performed on goodwill. If time and resources can be found to address the “laundry list” you wrote about, I hope the positioning of the messages will be high on the list. A problem with developing for Windows, as I understand, is there is an almost unlimited range of target device types. However, a significant number of users of the Nand2Tetris software will be using laptops rather than desktops. The layout of the screen contents should accommodate these devices. I agree the taskbar covering up the bottom of Windows is a real pain. I agree the GUI should autoresize the windows to accommodate this “inflated” taskbar.

The only reason I emphasise this display issue is that the software is so useful that it would be a shame that when users first encounter the software and get stuck that they abandon using the software because they can’t see the error messages that might help them resolve their initial problem. If new users can understand better a problem in their HDL and fix it then they would be encouraged to continue to use and benefit from the software.