Re: Number of NAND gates in the HACK computer

Posted by rp.wavv on Feb 16, 2025; 2:55am
URL: http://nand2tetris-questions-and-answers-forum.52.s1.nabble.com/Number-of-NAND-gates-in-the-HACK-computer-tp4038281p4038358.html

WBahn wrote

One thing to keep in mind about N2T is that it is laser-focused on a simple hierarchical approach that is functional. Efficiency, of any kind, is ruthlessly sacrificed on that alter.

This becomes apparent trying to implement gates with basic BJT transistors. AND and NAND are equally simple to build with two transistors but you would be led to believe that AND is more complex than NAND! But I get not wanting to teach transistors as a starting point, and so I continue to have tremendous respect for the approach of the book. I’ve learned a ton!

Given a bent toward actual hardware design, not that I’m planning on building my own logic chips, are there other resources—books or available online courses—that could build on a course like this toward more efficient digital circuit design? In particular I’d like to better understand how multi bit circuits and bus architecture works at an actual hardware level.

Thanks for your responses and genuine help already!