[TUHS] Encoding an ISA: Random Logic vs. Control Stores

[Jon Steinhart]

arnold at skeeve.com writes:
> Can someone please explain why it's called "random" logic? Discrete
> logic I understand (more or less), but I've not heard the term "random"
> used in this context before now.

Well, as a recovered random logic designer, I think that the name comes
from there being no particular structure to the logic.  Many parts of
logic design are very regular, think memory.  But that regularity doesn't
exist when, for example, decoding irregular instructions.