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By, Ryan Davis
The increasing accessibility of computing and scripting languages means more and more of us don't have computer science fundamentals and hand-wave our laptops and servers as magic. But, it doesn't take much to learn that the wizard box you type on every day is just layers of simple logic wrapped and reused all the way up. Indeed, starting with a single nand gate you can build the entire realm of boolean logic, and from that, a computer.

Working through a curriculum called Nand to Tetrisand its associated text book The Elements of Computing Systems, the Seattle.rb Study Group did exactly that. In just 12 short weeks,we went from nothing to a whole stack computer starting from just a single nand gate. We built a (simulated) computer, an assembler for its machine code, a virtual machine, a high level language compiler, and an OS with games to run.

In this talk, I will start with the nand gate, and build up a working computer explaining each layer as I go. You may not be able to build along with me in just a half hour, but I hope to infect you with my love for this curriculum and hopefully have it spread to your ruby/study group.

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In the presentation titled "Let's Build a Computer!" at GoGaRuCo 2014, Ryan Davis explores the fundamentals of computer construction using a bottom-up design approach, starting with the NAND gate and progressing through various logical constructs to build a functioning computer. The curriculum used stems from the book "Nand to Tetris," which guides learners through the complexities of computer science by starting from the simplest logic gates and expanding to a complete computer system.

Key Points Discussed:
- **Introduction to the NAND Gate**: Davis begins by explaining the NAND gate, highlighting its role as a universal gate capable of constructing all other logic gates, such as NOT, AND, and OR.
- **Building Logic Gates**: He demonstrates how to build other gates using the NAND gate, including the construction of NOT, AND, and OR gates using truth tables and De Morgan's Law.
- **Complex Gate Construction**: The talk progresses to more complex gates like XOR, MUX (multiplexer), and DMUX (demultiplexer), detailing their logical implementations and relation to corresponding coding structures.
- **Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)**: The ALU's function is discussed, showcasing how it processes inputs and executes various computing tasks, including addition through half adders and full adders.
- **Memory Construction**: Davis differentiates between combinational and sequential logic, emphasizing the role of memory components such as flip-flops in holding data and addressing memory efficiently.
- **Final Computer Assembly**: The presentation culminates in assembling a complete computer from the discussed components, emphasizing that once foundational elements are established, creating a computer becomes trivial.
- **Conclusion and Reflection**: Davis reflects on the educational value of the Nand to Tetris curriculum. He encourages attendees to appreciate the reachable complexity of computing that lies beyond surface-level understandings, signifying the unifying logic of computer architecture.

This technical journey offers insight into how fundamental logic can manifest into the devices we rely on every day, ultimately nurturing a deeper appreciation for the underlying principles of computing. It emphasizes learning through hands-on engagement with computer components, making complex subjects approachable for beginners and inspiring further study in computer science.

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