Building Systems from Scratch: Low-Level Programming Projects

Why I Love Low-Level Programming

While many developers rely on high-level abstractions, I’ve found immense value in understanding how computers work at the fundamental level. Here’s a showcase of projects where I built systems from scratch.

Assembly Typing Game

One of my favorite projects is a retro-style typing game built entirely in x86 Assembly Language. Think ZType, but written without any high-level language abstractions.

Technical Deep Dive

  • Implemented with the Irvine Library
  • Dynamic word generation system
  • Real-time input handling at the hardware level
  • Custom graphics rendering without modern frameworks
  • Memory management done manually

This project taught me about:

  • Hardware-level programming concepts
  • Direct memory manipulation
  • Real-time input processing
  • Graphics rendering fundamentals

C++ Graphing Calculator

I built a graphing calculator that parses mathematical expressions and renders plots in real-time.

Architecture Highlights

  • Custom data structures: Built Stack and Queue from scratch using linked lists
  • Shunting Yard algorithm: Converts infix to Reverse Polish Notation (RPN)
  • SFML graphics: Real-time function visualization
  • No reliance on high-level parsing libraries

Record Tables: A Database Engine from Scratch

This might be my most ambitious project - a lightweight database engine with SQL-like query capabilities.

What Makes It Special

Complete Query Pipeline:

  1. Tokenizer breaks down user input
  2. Shunting-yard parser converts to RPN
  3. RPN evaluator executes queries

Performance Features:

  • B+ tree indexing for logarithmic-time lookups
  • Binary file storage
  • Custom implementations of core data structures (no STL for engine core)
  • Built with modern C++ best practices

Testing & Build System:

  • CMake build configuration
  • GoogleTest integration
  • Comprehensive test coverage

Assembly Calculator

Before tackling complex projects, I started with fundamentals: a calculator in pure Assembly.

Learning Outcomes

  • Number format conversions (ASCII ↔ BCD)
  • Bit-level arithmetic operations
  • Direct memory management
  • Hardware-software interface understanding

Why These Projects Matter

These projects aren’t just academic exercises. They demonstrate:

  • Deep systems knowledge - Understanding how computers work at the lowest level
  • Performance optimization - Knowing where bottlenecks occur
  • Debugging skills - Finding issues without high-level debugging tools
  • Algorithmic thinking - Implementing efficient algorithms from scratch

Tech Stack: x86 Assembly, C++, SFML, Irvine Library, CMake, GoogleTest, B+ Trees, Binary I/O