CSCI 5980: Current Trends in Computer Architecture and Compiler Optimization
Syllabus
Where: MechE 102
When: 6:30PM-9:00PM Monday
Course Number: 66518
This course explores the motivation and design issues behind recently
emerged innovations in computer architecture and investigates how the
compiler and the hardware can work in tandem to fully exploit the
potential of each innovation. By comparing and contrasting
hardware-base and compiler-based techniques in architecture design,
the students will gain an in-depth understanding of the design
trade-offs in modern architecture. Performance, although very
important, is not the only criteria in optimizing computer systems,
this course will also discuss recent proposals on improving the
non-performance metrics in computer systems.
This course will cover but is not limited to the following topics:
-
Multithreaded Architectures
-
Speculative execution
-
Power-efficient design
-
Value prediction
-
Feedback-directed optimization
-
Runtime optimization
-
Alias analysis
-
Architectural support for reliable system
Prerequisites:
Graduate standing. Students should be familiar with
basic computer architecture concepts such as pipelining, caches,
cache coherence protocol, and branch prediction. Exposure to
classic compiler optimization techniques such as dataflow analysis,
register allocation and alias analysis is a plus.
Course material:
There is no textbook. The course would be based on
research literature and recent publications in architecture and
compiler conferences such as ASPLOS, PLDI, ISCA, Micro and CGO.
Course work:
The course is organized as a seminar where we discuss
a different topic every week. Two to three papers will be
assigned to each topic. All students are expected to read the
papers and submit part 1 of the
summary before class.
One student
is responsible for presenting the paper and leading the
discussion during class. Part 2 of the
summary is due 2 days
after class.
All summaries will be available online.
There will also be a written assignments and a class project.
Grading:
| Paper summaries
| 30%
|
| Presentations and discussion
| 30%
|
| Project
| 40%
|
Instructor:
Antonia Zhai (zhai at cs dot umn dot edu),
6-189 EE/CSci Building, 626-1285