En.605.704 May 2026

EN.605.704: Object-Oriented Analysis and Design

The course at Johns Hopkins University is a cornerstone of the graduate Computer Science program, focusing on the transition from real-world requirements to robust software architectures. Course Overview

| Week | Topic | Key Concepts | Reading | Assignment | |------|-------|--------------|---------|-------------| | 1 | Performance Fundamentals | Latency, throughput, CPI, Amdahl’s law, SPEC benchmarks | P&H Ch.1 | Worksheet: Performance equations | | 2 | ISA Design | RISC-V / MIPS ISA, addressing modes, encoding, RISC vs. CISC | P&H Ch.2 | ISA comparison essay | | 3 | Single-cycle & Multi-cycle Datapath | ALU, register file, control logic, clock cycles | P&H Ch.4 | Verilog datapath simulation | | 4 | Pipelining I | 5-stage pipeline, structural/data hazards, forwarding | P&H Ch.4.5-4.7 | Pipeline hazard detection (C++) | | 5 | Pipelining II | Control hazards, branch prediction (static/dynamic), BTB | P&H Ch.4.8 | Branch predictor simulator | | 6 | Memory Hierarchy I | Cache organization (direct, set-associative), write policies | P&H Ch.5.1-5.3 | Cache trace analysis (Python) | | 7 | Midterm Exam | Weeks 1-6 | - | Proctored exam | | 8 | Memory Hierarchy II | DRAM timing, prefetching, TLB, virtual memory | P&H Ch.5.4-5.7 | gem5 cache config experiment | | 9 | Out-of-Order Execution | Scoreboarding, Tomasulo’s algorithm, ROB | H&H Ch.7 | Tomasulo simulation (Java/Python) | | 10 | Advanced ILP | Superscalar, VLIW, speculative execution, register renaming | H&H Ch.7.6-7.9 | Speculative execution write-up | | 11 | SIMD & Vector Processors | Vector lanes, gather/scatter, GPU basics | P&H App.G | Vectorization exercise (AVX) | | 12 | Multiprocessors I | Shared memory, cache coherence (MSI/MESI), snooping | P&H Ch.5.8-5.10 | Coherence protocol FSM design | | 13 | Multiprocessors II | Directory-based coherence, memory consistency models (SC, TSO, RC) | P&H Ch.5.11-5.13 | Consistency litmus test analysis | | 14 | Final Project & Review | Project presentations, future trends (near-memory computing, CXL) | Selected papers | Final report & peer review | en.605.704

en.605.704: Foundations of Computer Architecture

Here is developed content for a graduate-level course titled . This content is structured as a syllabus module followed by a sample lecture outline, designed for a university engineering program (e.g., Johns Hopkins EP). Lab 1: Implementing a periodic task set using

Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Engineering for Professionals Unified Modeling Language (UML): Extensive use of UML

1. Fundamentals of Real-Time Computing

• Lab 1: Implementing a periodic task set using POSIX timers (clock_nanosleep). Measuring scheduler jitter.
• Lab 2: Simulating priority inversion and fixing it with pthread_mutexattr_setprotocol.
• Lab 3: Building a watchdog system that monitors task deadlines and escalates missed deadlines.
• Final Project: Students choose a domain (e.g., drone flight controller, patient vital-sign monitor) and implement a fully schedulable system with documentation.

• Unified Modeling Language (UML): Extensive use of UML diagrams (Class, Sequence, Use Case, State, and Activity diagrams) to visualize and document system architecture.
• Design Principles: Emphasis on core concepts such as encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and abstraction.
• Design Patterns: Study of classic "Gang of Four" design patterns (e.g., Singleton, Factory, Observer, Strategy) to solve common architectural problems.
• Software Architecture: Exploration of architectural styles, interface design, and component-based development.
• Methodologies: Comparison of different development approaches, including the transition from structured analysis to object-oriented techniques and the role of OOAD in Agile environments.

This course provides formal training in fundamental object-oriented principles , moving beyond simple coding into the strategic layout of complex systems. It is highly recommended as a prerequisite for more advanced tracks like Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) .

While specific syllabi vary by instructor (often industry experts from the FDA, Medtronic, or JHU faculty), the following structure is representative: