Computer Architecture for Scientists Principles and Performance

Each computer can perform a set of instructions (basic operations) to move and transform data. To support software, which evolves at a different pace, instructions are a critical interface for compatibility. For the hardware, the instruction set is the specification that must be implemented correctly, and as fast and cheaply as possible. To illustrate these concepts and give a practical understanding, we describe the elements of an instruction set using an emerging open-source instruction set, the RISC-V. This concrete example illustrates how an instruction set supports basic software constructs, and the challenges of implementation.