GET YOUR BEARINGS
Plan your next Turing Complete session
This companion guide splits Turing Complete's learning curve into focused exercises, helping you turn abstract NAND logic into concrete hardware designs while building a working grasp of assembly concepts.
01 / THE GUIDE
NAND Foundations
Recreate basic logic gates such as AND, OR and NOT using only NAND components. Compare the truth tables you produce with textbook definitions to confirm your understanding.
- Begin by experimenting with simple NAND configurations before tackling complex circuits.
- Document each successful gate combination; it simplifies later puzzles.
02 / THE GUIDE
Arithmetic Unit Construction
Assemble a binary adder from your NAND-based gates. Test it with several input pairs and observe how carry propagation emerges from the structure.
- Focus on the puzzle's stated goal; extraneous wiring can obscure the solution.
- Revisit earlier designs when a later puzzle reuses a component you already built.
03 / THE GUIDE
Memory Cell Implementation
Build a simple latch or flip-flop from NAND gates, then expand it into a small memory block. Watch how data persists across clock cycles.
- Keep your wiring organized so connections remain readable as designs grow.
- Test individual modules, such as a timer, before integrating them into larger designs.
04 / THE GUIDE
Custom Instruction Set Design
Define a minimal assembly instruction, such as an add operation, and map it to your hardware's control signals. Write a short program that uses it and verify the execution.
- Start with a minimal instruction set and expand as your hardware capabilities grow.
- Keep the instruction format simple to make debugging easier.
05 / THE GUIDE
Full CPU Integration
Combine your arithmetic, memory and control units into a complete CPU. Run a basic loop program and compare its behavior with the theoretical model of a von Neumann architecture.
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