Completing the Introduction to RISC-V course

Last week, I mentioned the edX course LFD110x: Introduction to RISC-V, highlighting its potential for anyone interested in learning about RISC-V architecture as a new session was starting.

After going through the course, I noticed that its content closely resembles what's covered in the RISC-V Foundational Associate (RVFA) course. This similarity isn't necessarily a downside, as the material is thorough and well-presented, fitting for both courses. That said, if you're familiar with the RVFA course, you might not find a lot of new information here.

Where the edX course does stand out is in its practical components, especially the segments on RISC-V assembly. The assignments in this area are particularly well-constructed, offering a bit more guidance and detail, which I found helpful and interesting.

My prior knowledge of RISC-V and my keen interest in the topic definitely played a role in how quickly I was able to move through the course. I believe that others with a technical background and the willingness to dedicate some time could also complete it relatively quickly, possibly within a week.

I found value in the course, as it helped fill in some gaps in my understanding of RISC-V. I'd suggest it to anyone with an interest in the subject, as it provides a comprehensive overview in a single place. I chose to get the verified certificate to support edX and to encourage others about the course. If you're curious about what the certificate looks like, feel free to take a look at mine here.

Subscribe to my newsletter

Read articles from Peter Membrey directly inside your inbox. Subscribe to the newsletter, and don't miss out.

Written by

Peter Membrey

Peter Membrey is the Chief Engineering Officer at ExpressVPN and has been with the company since 2016. He is the creator of Lightway , a state of the art Open Source VPN protocol that protects millions of users every day with a focus on security and privacy. He was also one of the core creators of TrustedServer, the VPN industry’s first true RAM only server. Peter is also a Chartered Fellow of the British Computer Society, a Chartered IT Professional and a Chartered Engineer. He has a doctorate in engineering and a masters degree specializing in Information Security. He has co-authored over a dozen technical books and a number of research papers on a variety of topics. He is also an IEEE Computer Society Distinguished Contributor, has written for the IT Professionals New Zealand Blog and has appeared on national TV in New Zealand to offer insights into cyber security. Although he works in industry, he remains very interested in academia and is actively looking for opportunities to conduct research and work with academics and students in the privacy field. His primary focus at the moment is Internet Privacy and the technologies that make that possible. His role is primary R&D and hopes to publish papers in peer reviewed journals in the near future. He is also looking at founding a VPN industry centric conference. Apart from this, he is also interested in time synchronization, particularly dealing with variable latency networks.