Most Students Stop at the Theory. Here’s What Happens If You Don’t: My DLX CPU Project

Alessandro Salvato
31 ago
Tempo di lettura: 3 min

How going deeper on a university CPU project gave me real-world insight — and made me stand out in interviews.

When I started working on MyDLX, I thought it would be just another technical challenge — a fun university project for the Microelectronic Systems course. I didn’t expect it to shift the way I think about designing complex systems, whether hardware or software.

🚀 Beyond the Exam: The Power of Extra Projects

At university, we’re often told what to study, how to study it, and when to stop. But the truth is: you decide how far to take your learning.

Projects like MyDLX are optional only in theory — because in practice, they make all the difference.

Going beyond the classroom, beyond the theoretical explanations on slides, is what truly sets you apart. It’s what separates those who simply pass exams from those who build systems, who think deeply, who create.

When you work on something that isn't required — when you choose to go deeper — you’re investing in yourself in ways no syllabus can capture.

MyDLX is a clean-room implementation of a simplified DLX CPU — a minimal RISC architecture often used in education. But instead of treating it as just a one-shot assignment, I turned it into a personal lab.

It became a miniature world of design decisions: how modules interact, how timing propagates, how everything from ALU to memory controller must align precisely. It felt less like homework, and more like building a real product from the ground up.

And that’s where learning truly happens.

*The physical layout of MyDLX after synthesis and place&route — a visual reminder of how complex even a "simplified" CPU can be.*

🔄 VHDL vs. C: More Alike Than You Think

One of the most interesting things about this journey was discovering the similarities between hardware design (VHDL) and embedded software (C).

Both require careful state management, modular design, and a mindset that’s equally focused on structure and behavior.VHDL taught me to think in cycles; C taught me to think in control flow. Both sharpened the same instincts: precision, foresight, clarity.

The bridge between hardware and software is real — and learning to walk it confidently is what embedded engineering is all about.

✅ Testing Is Thinking

Whether you're writing a testbench in VHDL or unit tests in C, you're doing more than just verification — you're refining your own understanding. You’re turning “it should work” into “here’s why it does.”

This mindset is invaluable not just for passing tests or finishing assignments, but for writing reliable systems in the real world.

💼 Projects Open Doors

Here’s something I’ve learned first-hand: these extra projects? They matter. A lot.

In technical interviews, being able to speak confidently about something you've built from scratch makes a huge difference.Showing real code, testbenches, simulations — not just reciting theory — proves that you know how to turn knowledge into systems.

MyDLX gave me stories to tell. It helped me see how I think and build.And yes — it helped me land opportunities.

🎓 The Takeaway

The choice to enrich your path with extra projects is entirely yours. But it’s one of the best choices you can make.

If you're a student: don’t stop at what’s required. Take that curiosity and build something with it. Not because it’s mandatory — but because that’s how you grow. That’s how you become the kind of engineer who stands out.

And if you're already in the field: never stop building. Even the smallest projects can shift your mindset and sharpen your skills.

Sometimes the most important lessons happen outside the lecture hall.