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 Baseline D3 Materials

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