CPU Sim 3.1 is an educational software package written in Java for use in CS3 courses. CPU Sim provides students an active learning environment in which they can design, modify, and compare various computer architectures at the register-transfer level and higher. They can run assembly language or machine language programs for those architectures through simulation. CPU Sim is a complete development environment, including dialog boxes for designing the CPU architecture, a text editor for editing assembly language programs, an assembler, several display windows for viewing the registers and RAMs during the execution of programs, and many debugging features such as the ability to step forward or backward during execution, inspecting and optionally changing the values in the registers and RAMs after each step. These features and suggested uses of CPU Sim in CS3 classes are discussed.

CPU Sim 3.1: A tool for simulating computer architectures for computer organization classes

A workstation laboratory allows undergraduate students to build complete, functioning computers--in simulation. The simulation extends down to the gate and signal levels, with effective modeling of delays and transitions, so reasonable assurance of the validity of the designs can be obtained. The computers constructed in this laboratory are complete with peripheral equipment including tapes and disks, and the students furnish a rudimentary operating system. The student operating-systems receive executable binary objects on the tapes, transfer them to the disk, and initiate their execution. The executable objects and the operating system are produced by a standard C compiler. Students must limit their C-language source code and data types used so the compile binaries will be executable on the 16-bit wide, Motorola 680X0-like computer they construct. The computers are constructed in an hierarchical manner from the gates and medium-scale components available in the digital simulator used in this laboratory.

A laboratory for building computers

xSICSIH is an X-based graphical interface for the SICSIM computer simulation tool. Its graphical portrayal of register-level components tmwforms the ‘black box” SICSIM machine into a ‘visual computer”, helping students understand how computers work. Single step, fast-ezecution, and breakpoints are among the control features helpful for debugging assembly language programs. Automatic disassembly and format conversions and displays for comparing expected to actual execution reduce fiwstmtion in debugging loader, macro processor, and assembler projects.

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A graphical computer simulator for systems programming courses

CPU SIM is an interactive low-level computer simulation package that runs on the Macintosh computer. Users of the package specify the details of the CPU to be simulated, including the register, i/o channels, main memory, the microinstruction set, machine instructions, and assembly language instructions. User can then create machine or assembly language programs using the built-in text editor and assembler and can run their programs in the simulator. It is possible to step through the execution of a program one machine instruction at a time. Also, users may choose to edit the contents of any component and then continue execution. The main window displays the state of the machine at every step. CPU Sim was chosen as “Best Engineering Software (Computer Science)” in the 1993 EDUCOM Higher Education Software and Curriculum Innovation Awards Program. It is currently being sold by Intellimation.

CPU Sim a computer simulator for use in an introductory computer organization-architecture class

Students learning computer organization and assembly language programming often have difficulty understanding the relationship between hardware functions and software instructions. This paper describes how a software tool can help students understand the organization and use of the Motorola 68000 processor family. XSIM68K employs a graphical interface to enhance a traditional “black box” simulator so that students can observe first-hand the effect of a running program on registers, memory, and II0 devices. Multiple data representations allow the student to choose the most appropriate format for data entry and display, which reduces confusion and eliminates conversion mistakes.

SkrienDale

Papers

A multilevel simulator at the register transfer level for use in an introductory machine organization class