LEVEL 00 / LESSON 04

CPU, Memory & Peripherals

Learn the concept first, then connect it to registers, firmware implementation, hardware behavior and debugging.

01 / CONCEPT

CPU, Memory & Peripherals

The CPU executes instructions. Memory stores program code and data. Peripherals provide hardware functions such as GPIO, timers, ADC and communication interfaces. Firmware coordinates these blocks. For example, a UART driver configures a peripheral's registers, writes data to a transmit register and monitors status flags or interrupts.

CORE IDEA

CPU executes instructions

ENGINEERING VIEW

Flash commonly stores program code

WHAT TO CHECK

RAM stores runtime data and stack

REMEMBER

Peripherals expose hardware functions through registers

02 / PRACTICAL CHECK

Engineer’s checklist

  • CPU executes instructions
  • Flash commonly stores program code
  • RAM stores runtime data and stack
  • Peripherals expose hardware functions through registers
lesson-notes.c
// Level 0 practical notes
// Next iteration: register diagrams + full STM32 examples.