CRAFT Overlay — D3 — Combinational Logic & always@(*)¶

Date: Wed 5/27

🌍 Contextualize¶

"Real-time decision systems use combinational logic — the kind that produces an output the instant inputs change. The structural calculations that kept the Sagrada Familia standing? Combinational. You'll see it this afternoon."

⚠️ Reframe¶

"If You're Thinking Like a Programmer: if/else is the same as in C. Reframe: if/else synthesizes to priority-encoded mux chains. case synthesizes to parallel muxes. They have different hardware costs — see it in the Yosys schematic."

🔑 Key Insight¶

"Incomplete sensitivity lists and missing else branches cause latch inference — the #1 synthesis bug for beginners. always @(*) and full case coverage prevent it."

🤖 Check the Machine¶

(None — pre-AI-thread)

🔗 Transfer¶

"Friday: clocked logic — the posedge that makes sequential circuits possible. After that, you can build anything."

Visit/Activity Connection¶

PM: Sagrada Familia — Gaudí's structural models were essentially combinational: load in, shape out, no memory of sequence. Notice the branching geometry — it's a physical if/else tree.

Back to Barcelona Day Plan View Slides Baseline D3 Materials

This overlay supplements the baseline D3 daily plan. All lab exercises and lecture content come from the baseline D3 materials.