Computer Time Travel: How to build a microprocessor from transistors

my first machine was a ZX80 back in 1981. since then ive gone on to work in IT for a quarter century. this book gives me a greater understanding of what goes on under the covers.

This book takes you back to the very basics of computer CPU design, right down to the transistor level. It's written in a logical order that steadily builds upon the previous chapters are you progress through the book. The one citicism I have of this book is the print quality of the schematics is terrible. The diagrams are very faint and very difficult to read. I did reach out the author via their website to see if it was possible to obtain a PDF version or something similar, but unfortunately I received no reply. Whilst the book's technical content is good, the schematics made following along in parallel a real chore for me.

Lol I have not read it yet, but it came brand new and unscratched. Had to write this review out of excitement, will update soon!

An interesting book that covers the building of three digital computers, using a microprocessor, discrete digital electronics and to the most ambitious, a computer made from discrete transistors.

Much like the author, I have long been fascinated by the workings of CPUs. As a teenager in 1982, tearing apart my VIC-20 and learning how to read schematics in the back of the VIC-20 Programmers Reference Guide, I've kept that interest. Now we have resources that would seem like fantasy to me back then: whole communities focused on homebrew CPUs, easy access to knowledge of the ancients, and the ability to acquire tools like logic analyzers for less than a movie date night.While I do intend to try to build the projects here and I find much of the material valuable, I have to point out a few issues with the book itself...It could use a heavy editing session. Many common typos (it / if / is) in the wrong place. The author seems to have a dislike of commas. If there are any, they are few and far between. Commas are not option ("let's eat grandma!").The images are pretty small, such that I need a mild magnifying glass to discern details. It appears the book may be print-on-demand, but it would be ideal if the full-sized graphics could have been supplied on a separate CD.