“There always is an architecture, whether it is defined in advance - as with modern computers - or found out after the fact - as with many older computers. For architecture is determined by behavior, not by words. Therefore, the term architecture, which rightly implies the notion of the arch, or prime structure, should not be understood as the vague overall idea. Rather, the product of the computer architecture, the principle of operations manual, should contain all detail which the user can know, and sooner or later is bound to know.”

Source: Computer architecture (1972), p. 155

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Gerrit Blaauw 5
Dutch computer scientist 1924–2018

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Source: Computer architecture (1972), p. 154

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“The architecture of a system can be defined as the functional appearance of the system to the user.”

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Blaauw (1972) cited in: Gerritt A Blaauw (1976) Digital system implementation. p. 6

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