CHAPTER 4 — The Processor

Classic programmed-learning exercises, refreshed for modern Java and presented in the current MrStyner.com portfolio style.

Modern Java noteThis archive has been refreshed for Java 25 LTS. Core language concepts remain useful, while outdated setup instructions and browser-era Java are labeled or replaced. Java 26 is the current feature release; Java 25 is used here as the stable teaching baseline.
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Revised: 01/18/99, 01/17/00, 01/08/06, 08/20/08

CHAPTER 4 — The Processor

From previous chapters you know that the major hardware components of a computer system are:

  • Processor
  • Main memory
  • Secondary memory devices
  • Input/output devices

This chapter examines the "brain" of the computer system — the processor. Then it shows how the programs you write are translated into instructions for the processor.

Chapter Topics:

  • Machine operations and machine language
  • Example of machine language
  • Different types of processor chips
  • High level programming languages
  • Language translators (compilers)
  • Language interpreters

QUESTION 1:

What component of a computer system is directly responsible for running a program?

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