skip to main content
article
Free Access

The generation of simulator-based systems for microcode development

Published:01 December 1984Publication History
Skip Abstract Section

Abstract

The work described in this paper is directed at the structure and construction of simulator-based systems for the development and testing of microcode. While the value of such software tools is widely recognised, their availability in the early stages of the development cycle of a new machine is subject to the time and effort required for their implementation. We describe here the design of a system to assist in their generation from the specifications of the machine to be simulated. The system is based on the application of generalised program and data structures to facilitate the rapid implementation of an efficient simulation 'nucleus', which is integrated with an 'environment' of machine-independent routines for user interaction with the simulated machine.

References

  1. 1 S Davidson and B D Shriver, "Firmware Engineering: An Extensive Update," Firmware, Microprogramming and Restructurable Hardware, North-Holland, 1980, pp 1-40.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  2. 2 T C Raymond, "LSI/VLSI Design Automation," Computer, July 1981, pp 89-101.Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  3. 3 D E Thomas and J A Nestor, "Defining and Implementing a Multilevel Design Representation with Simulation Applications," IEEE Transactions on Computer Aided Design, Vol CAD-2, No 3, July 1983, pp 135-144.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  4. 4 D Hill and W M van Cleemput, "Sable: A Tool for Generating Structured, Multi-Level Simulations," Proc 1979 Design Automation Conference, pp 272-27 Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  5. 5 G Zimmermann, "The Minola Design System: A Computer Aided Digital Processor Design Method," Proc 1979 Design Automation Conference, pp 53-58. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  6. 6 S W Director, A C Parker, D P Siewiorek and D E Thomas, "A Design Methodology and Computer Aids for Digital VLSI Systems," IEEE Trans Circuits Systems, vol CAS-28, July 1981, pp 634-645.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  7. 7 W M van Cleeput, "An Hierarchical Language for the Structural Description of Digital Systems," Proc 14th Design Automation Conference, New Orleans, 1977, pp 377-385. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  8. 8 M R Barbacci, "Instruction Set Processor Specifications (ISPS): The Notation and its Applications," IEEE Trans Computers, vol C-30, January 1981.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  9. 9 M Persson, "Design of Software Tools for Microprogrammable Microprocessors," TRITA-NA-7903, Department of Numerical Analysis and Computing Science, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, 1979.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  10. 10 Y Chu, "Concepts of a Microcomputer Design Language," Proc 1979 Design Automation Conference, pp 45-52. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  11. 11 W M van Cleemput, "Computer Hardware Description Languages and their Applications," Proc 1979 Design Automation Conference, pp 554-560. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  12. 12 M Adamowicz and J Mirza, "MDSL: A Microcomputer Design and Simulation Language," ACM SIG Micro Newsletter, vol 8 No 2, 1977, pp 21-39. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  13. 13 M Adamowicz and J Mirza, "MDSL: A Microcomputer Design and Simulation Language," ACM SIG Micro Newsletter, vol 8 No 2, 1977, pp 21-39. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library
  14. 14 A Powlak and J Jezewski, "MODLAN - A Language for Multilevel Description and Modelling of Digital Systems," Computer Hardware Description Languages and their Aplications, M Breuer and R Hartenstein (eds), North-Holland, 1981, pp 79-93.Google ScholarGoogle Scholar
  15. 15 C C Charlton, D ELliot and P H Leng, "An Interactive Software System for Microcode Development," Microprocessing and Microprogramming, 13(2), 1984, pp 105-115.Google ScholarGoogle ScholarCross RefCross Ref
  16. 16 M Mezzalama and P Prinetto, "A Strategy for simulating Bit-Slice based Microprogrammable Systems," Microprocessing and Microprogramming, 7, 1981, pp 334-343.Google ScholarGoogle ScholarCross RefCross Ref
  17. 17 S Schleimer and W J Meyers, "Experience with a High-Level Micromachine Simulator," Proc Micro-12 (12th Annual Microprogramming Workshop), 1979, pp 49-54. Google ScholarGoogle ScholarDigital LibraryDigital Library

Index Terms

  1. The generation of simulator-based systems for microcode development

            Recommendations

            Comments

            Login options

            Check if you have access through your login credentials or your institution to get full access on this article.

            Sign in

            Full Access

            • Published in

              cover image ACM SIGMICRO Newsletter
              ACM SIGMICRO Newsletter  Volume 15, Issue 4
              MICRO 17: Proceedings of the Seventeenth Annual Microprogramming Workshop
              Dec. 1984
              302 pages
              ISSN:1050-916X
              DOI:10.1145/384281
              Issue’s Table of Contents
              • cover image ACM Conferences
                MICRO 17: Proceedings of the 17th annual workshop on Microprogramming
                December 1984
                325 pages

              Copyright © 1984 Authors

              Publisher

              Association for Computing Machinery

              New York, NY, United States

              Publication History

              • Published: 1 December 1984

              Check for updates

              Qualifiers

              • article

            PDF Format

            View or Download as a PDF file.

            PDF

            eReader

            View online with eReader.

            eReader
            About Cookies On This Site

            We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website.

            Learn more

            Got it!