The generation of simulator-based systems for microcode development

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.