Mikrocodesimulator MikroSim 2010 - ... the ultimate CPU-Simulation Program (original) (raw)
| Product Description The Mikrocodesimulator is a Windows compatible application, on which microprocessor functionality can be simulated didactially. The user is able to investigate on various levels of abstraction how microcodes are understood as coded switch settings, how these codes are controlled executed in tacts, how microcodes are grouped in sequence to a microcode program placed in a ROM, and finally how a structured microcode program can interpret machine codes programmed in an external RAM for execution. In this manner, the operation range of single opating devices like ALU and memory composed to a programmable and versitile computer is perceptible and realizable. Whereas ALU, memory operation and the interaction are predefined, interaction control can be set as microcode commands in the ROM. By this, the user can design and implement his own designed machine codes into the ROM as OpCodes and is able to verify them step by step in single phases, tacts, and cycles. The utilisation of the application is remarkable intuitive. On the screen, the user enables the virtual devices belonging to the level of simulation. The content of the device interfaces can be modified by various editors easily in different numerative systems. In the newest revision of the mikrcodesimulator, MikroSim 2010, the CPU application is strongly extended and improved. So, the simulator is the first application which is didactically leading to the nature of floating point caculation with single precision according to IEEE 754. Beyond this, the virtual CPU is connected with virtual peripherial hardware devices for input and output control via DMA bus, Inter-IC bus, and Interrupt control, which gives the virtual application a more application relevant relation to real application board hardware. By means of an integrated benchmark tool the user can determine the performance capability of the simulation tool and the effectivity of executed microcodes. Performance indices of the useres computer hardware measured in MIPS and FLOPS can be set in direct relation to the simulation speed measured in clock, micorocode, or OpCode excetution rate and to ALU calculation power for integer and floating point calculation. |  |
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The Mikrocodesimulator MikroSim is supported by the addon software MikroBAT. This software is a Basic-Assembler-Tool for MikroSim to create RAM contents in external program files used in simulation by MikroSim, written in assembler code which is using MikroSim's self-defined opcode set. |
Key Features
Available since MikroSim 2000:
- MikroSim is a Microsoft Windows compatible simulation programm.
- Simulation of a virtual CPU model composed with key devices like register, ALU, clock generator, address control unit, and external memory.
- Stepwise contruction of a CPU and its simulation by composition of contributing devices.
- Interactive control of the simulation and execution speed, i.e. tracable microcode operations in steps of single phases, single clocks, CPU cycles, and machine code operation.
- Detailed help file and documentation of all instruction sets and functionality of the application in bilingual fashion: English and German
- Editor supporting calculations in different application relevant numerative systems
- Editor displaying the organisation of the RAM content
- Editor for composing menu controlled microcodes (Microcoding) compiled to machine codes (OpCodes)
- Editor for reviewing available machine codes
Novelties of MikroSim 2010:
- MikroSim is now optimized for MircoSoft Windows XP, running and tested also on Windows 2000/Vista/7 (32 and 64bit).
- Extension of the ALU function codes by single-bit manipulations, flag register storage, constant generations, and interrupt control
- Supporting 32-Bit floating point number treatment: new ALU function codes for elementary mantissa and exponent operations according to IEEE754 and for analytical functions known from FPUs and mathematical coprocessors.
- Reordering of all 128 ALU function codes for didactically introduction of logic, interger, and floating point operations.
- RAM extension from 2k Byte to 16k Byte
- Supporting editors for importing and composing microcode and RAM contents
- Improved microcode documentation features
- Free-Run Mode of the application possible
- Performance increasing simulation activity suppression
- Measurement features for estimating simulation power in clock, microcode, and OpCode execution rate
- Benchmark tool available for estimation of system power measured in MIPs and FLOPs in relation to microcode operation and ALU calculation power of integer and floating point values
Persons of Interest and Target Group
The application is of advantage for
- Pupils, Students, Tutors, Teachers, Professors, and for any person generally interested in microelectronics or computer science
using the tool in at least one of the technical fields like
- Automization Techniques, Computer Science, Microelectronics, Electronics, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Telematic or Mathmatics,
being engaged and involved in topics like
- Computer Architecture, Microcoding, Microcode Programming, Microcontroller Application, Machine Code Development, Assembler Coding
within lecture, lesson, study, education, study, or self-study.
Background Knowledge
Basically no special background knowledge is necessary. The functionality can by understood on Register Transfer Level (RTL). Of course, advantageously to get more quickly into deep knowledge are cross referencing experiences gained in the field of logical and digital circuitry design of devices like register, clock devices, arithmetic logical units, memory storage devices, etc. which can be discribed by Boolean algebra.
Benefit and Advantage
- For pupils, students and technical interested users: Understanding the structure and implementation of machine codes by structured automatization control. Introduction into the world of microcoding. Own development of machine code commands. Assisting in solving practically exercises aligned with lecture.
- For teacher, tutors, professors: Helpful tool for introducing didactially step by step into the considerations of microcoding and to visualize general hardware control from switch control to machine code development. It is possible to introduce up to 8 weeks into technical computer science aspects accorrding to into lecture targets. Exercises can be easily prepared and stored and compiled for educational use. Implementation Solutions can be verified, discussed. Existing solutions can be benchmarked and qualified.
- Didactically transition from Boolean algebra towards understanding machine coding of a computer.
- Application can be used in Lessons and for exercises.
- Saving of more than 2 man-year of development and program maintenance
- This application has been continously developed and improved over more than 15 years.
- Benefit of more than 10 years experience in educational tool usage and 10 years industrial background collected at university and in the microelectronics industry as engaged experimental physisist with PhD.
- Application is optimized for Windows XP and is easily accessable for a wide range of users.
Awards and Honours
The Mikrocodesimulator has been presented on numerous exhibitions and software competitions. Here an overview in brief:
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| November 1994, Heidelberg: European Academic Software Award EASA The Mikrocodesimulator has been awarded at the European Academic Software Award in the category computer science on 28th November 1994. The "European Academic Software Award (EASA)" has been organized by the "Akademischen Software Kooperation (ASK)", Karlsruhe, and has been announced in 1994 Europe wide for the first time. The award is a continuation of "Deutsch-�sterreichischen Hochschulsoftwarepreis". In continuous intervalls the European Academic Software Award is announced each two years. Here, you can review the picture taken at the Winner's Ceremony. | | 
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| March 1995, Hannover: Computer Exhibition CeBit'95 The application has been presented 8.-15. M�rz 1995 on the Computer Exhibition CeBIT 95 at the booth of the Hessischen Hochschulen to the public the first time. The flyer distributed at this time can be reviewed here as PDF-File or Web-Site (in German only). | | 
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| October 1996, Bonn: European Year of Long Live Learning At 16.10.1996, the simulator has been presented in the scope of "European Year of Long Live Learning" and awarded by the European Union with 1000 ECU. | | 
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| January 1997, Karlsruhe: Software Exhibition LearnTec The simulator has been presented and awarded 27.1.-30.1.1997 at the LearnTec 1997in Karlsruhe during the Multimedia Transfer '97. | | 
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History of Origin: 20 Years Microcode Simulation with MikroSim
Since almost 20 years, the Mikrocodesimulator is integral part of the lecture of the Philipps-University Marburg. The successful application of this tool is based on following aspects:
- The program author himself is fascinated since schooldays by the automization of calculation processes on hardware. Based on own interest, a large commitment in programming useful applications, and being inspired by the precessor application got to know when visiting Informatik3-Lecture in WS92/93 given by Prof. Dr. Heinz-Peter Gumm, the Mikrocodesimulator emerged the first time as powerful and intuitively usable Windows application.
- The didactical concept has been applied, modificated and approved in WS1993/94 in several lectures at Philipps-Universit�t Marburg. The tool has demonstrated during this time being successful usable in lectures and for exercises.
- The application has been awarded already at this time with the EUROPEAN ACADEMIC SOFTWARE AWARD 1994 in the category Computer Science.
- Due to this success the program has been presented at the CeBit'95.
- Since the first edition of the text book "Einf�hrung in die Informatik"(Introduction into computer science) of Profs Heinz-Peter Gumm and Manfred Sommer (1st Ed.: Addision-Wesley, ISBN 3-89319-945-4) MikroSim is being discussed, and it is still part of the leatest edition (8th).
Comparison to Competitive Solutions
- Currently, there is no other comparable and available CPU simulator for didactical use covering the scope of teaching.
- Known simulators are programmed on DOS-basis at earlier days and are adapted to windows usage.
- This tool is treating a virtual central processing unit next to application relevant devices. It is not specialized on a special kind of hardware and therefore easily usable for general introduction before starting special projects.
- Mikrocodesimulator MikroSim 2000 is Windows95/98/Me/NT/2000 compatible and will be supported most probably by any compatible operation system in the future. MikroSim 2010 is optimized for Windows XP.
- The application and its editors supporting during the microcoding process. No modification of complex source code, no usage of compilers and no special knowledge in programming languages is necessary.
- Can be used in the educational courses as well as in exercises for private use.
- Has been developed at the "Philipps-University Fachgebiet Informatik" and provides valuable contribution than more than 10 years in lectures of technical computer science. Several educational institutes have discovered its usefulness and using it already, too.
- The program has been presented already several years ago on exhibition fairs and contests and judged as innovative and didactically extremly useful.
Conclusion: In its appearence, the Mikrocodesimulator MikroSim is unique. At this point it should be valuable to mention, that there are existing several software solutions, distributed as shareware or freeware, that are emerged from private interest or group work. Also useful hardware tools are available e.g. as microcontroller application boards and training platforms. But no solution is covering the scope of simulation such general, universal, and in a wide manner like MikroSim does.
Literature
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**"Einf�hrung in die Informatik"**Edited by Dr. Heinz-Peter Gumm und Dr. Manfred Sommerat Addision-Wesley, ISBN 3-89319-945-4, 1.Ed., 1994.Already at the first edition, the simulation concept has its own chapter. |
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In chapter 5, within 100 pages a introduction into computer architecture is given. In the third subchapter "Von den Schaltgliedern zur CPU" on 15 pages the microcoding concept is discussed in detail and is building a bridge between "Boolean Algebra" and "Assembler Programming". (5. Auflage Oldenbourg Verlag, ISBN 3-48625-635-1, 2002). |
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Due to the huge reputation, the standard text book has been reissued with improvements alredy more than 8 times (Oldenbourg Verlag, ISBN 978-3-486-58724-1, 2009) . The ninth release has just been issued recently. |
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References
As already mentioned, over more than 15 years the Mikrocodesimulator is integral part of the lecture of the Philipps-Universit�t Marburg / Lahn.
Moreover, the simulator is licenced to a number of universities and eductional institutions:
- Hochschule f�r Technik und Wirtschaft (HTW) Berlin, Fachbereich Ingenieurwissenschaften
- Technische Universit�t Chemnitz
- Fachhochschule Esslingen
- Universit�t Erlangen, FB Informatik
- Fachhochschule Flensburg
- Abendgymnasium Frankfurt
- Universit�t Hildesheim
- Berufsakademie Karlsruhe, FB Wirtschaftsinformatik, FB Mechatronik
- Fachhochschule Kempten
- Fachhochschule Ludwigsburg
- Universit�t Magdeburg
- Universit�t Marburg: FB Mathematik, FG Informatik, FB Psychologie
- Universit�t Mannheim
- Fachhochschule Ober�sterreich (FFOE), Fakult�t f�r Informatik/Kommunikation/Medien
- Berufsakademie Ravensburg
- Universit�t Stuttgart
- Universit�t T�bingen, FB Informatik
- Max-Planck-Institut f�r Biologie T�bingen
- Fachhochschule Ulm
- Hochschule f�r Technik und Wirtschaft (HTW) Berlin, Fachbereich Ingenieurwissenschaften
Product Portfolio for Microcode Simulations
- Completed OpCode Set of CPU and FPU
More information you find here ... - Elaborated simulation files
Functionality Examples for MikroSim's virtual hardware periphery comprising Port, Display, Event, Clock-Timer, Sensor, Keyboard, Output- and Input devices
Interrupt Control, I2C-Bus Access, DMA-Mode
Introduction into floating point calculations - Decorative illustration material for teaching material collection
More information you find here ... - Teaching Material (in preparation - please ask!)
- Trainings (on request)
- Microcontroller-Experimental board (in Development)
Testability of the Simulator
The Mikrocodesimulator MikroSim 2010 is free of costs available, either by ordering a demo version by mail or direct download. The program is usable to get to know its keyfeatures etc already in this demoversion. It is allowed to copy and redistribute this version in its setup package. Anybody who likes to use the software as full featured version is able to activate and self-registrate the simulator once for a 10 days trial period for full testablity. After the test period has expired the simulator can only be used on the installed system by ordering a single user licence or using a multi-user licence. Usability of the software as demoversion is still possible. The software can be updated independed of the licence status.
Further more, it is possible to aquire a multi-user licence for checking the practability of MikroSim for educational use at low costs. The buyer of the licence determines the number of licences and the test period. He is provided with the required product licence files (PLFs) for MikroSim and MikroBAT. The licence fee is taken into account when ordering a full product licence.
Hardware and Operation Requirements
- Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows XP or upwards compatible operation system.
- Optimized for Windows XP, supported by 32 and 64 bit OS Vista and Windows7 (XP-Compatibility Mode not necessary)
- Active or accessable internet connection at program start and end with only >2 kBps and/or an unused USB port
- Screen resolution: > 1000 x 800 pixels
- Standard Hardware: Available HDD space of appr. 45 MB, 30MB available RAM, Intel Pentium4 compatible CPU or higher
Licence Models
The simulator is availble as single-user licence or multi-user licence version.
- Single-User Licence:
The single user licence is user and hardware related. After registration, the application is only unlimited usable on the dedicated system, on which the simulator has been installed, tested and the registration file (i.e. Product Licence File, PLF) is created from. The PLF contains user and hardware relevant parameter filed for the registration. This licence can only be used on that single hardware, a valid internet connection is not neccessary to operate the software. - Multi-User Licence:
A multi user licence is given to an institution, which is distributing the licences to its users for educational use. In contrast to the single user licence, the multi-user licence is not hardware or user related and needs no further registration. So, a usage of the program is possible without complicated licencing procedures. The benefit is that pupils and students can work on their own hardware if desired and are not limited to the IT equipment of the institution. Acquisition of this kind of licence is possible when ordering more than 10 licences. - Distributable Single-User Licence:
This licence type allows the usage of MikroSim as registrated version as long the USB stick is connected to the computer in use. The licence is related to the USB stick and personilized to the institution that distributes the hardware related licence to their pupils and students. They can work on their own hardware if desired and they are not limited to the IT equipment of the institution. The usage of the program is possible without complicated licencing procedures. The additional costs for the USB hardware and the efforts of distributing and collecting the hardware licence is compensated by the program tool usage without Internet connection necessary. - More information you find here ...
Licence Fee
| Version Type |  MikroSim |
 MikroBAT |
MikroSim and MikroBAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demo Version The usage of the demo version is free of cost and further distributed within its setup-package highly appreciated. | no Licence Fee | no Licence Fee | no Licence Fee |
| Multi-User Licence as Test Version You want to test the practability of MikroSim for educational use? No problem - you can acquire a group licence for test purpose, you just need to determine the period of time and number of educants you are planning to involve. 0/1-SimWare provides to you the PLF-files . This kind of licence can only be used with an established internet connection for licence verification. |
__ | __ |  50 Cents per Day / Licence |
| Single-User Licence The unlimited program version is intended for single user, who wants to test the application for a longer time to test its applicability for lectures or for self-studies. This software is necessary when having no internet connection available. | 49.95 EUR / Licence | 24.95 EUR / Licence | 69.95 EUR / Licence |
| Multi-User Licence This licence type is intended for group licences of an institution for educational use, where the simulator is used linked to the lecture. The institution distributes its licence file which allow visitors of the lecture to become users of the institutes tool by receiving a licence file. The licence file is temporarily valid not longer than 90 days and generated by means of an institution own product-licence file generating application. This kind of licence can only be used with an established internet connection for licence verification. | 59.95 EUR / Licence incl. PLF-Generator for MikroSim  |
29.95 EUR / Licence incl. PLF-Generator for MikroBAT  |
79.95 EUR / Licence incl. PLF-Generator for MikroSim and MikroBAT |
| Distributable Single-User Licence With this licence type the user gets a USB stick which serves as dongle during tool usage.Please consider in your order delays due to limited hardware availability. | 69.95 EUR / Licence incl. USB-Stick/Licence | 44.95 EUR / Licence incl. USB-Stick/Licence | 89.95 EUR / Licence incl. USB-Stick/Licence |
| All Prices are Brutto including VAT |
Distribution Source
The product Mikrocodesimulator MikroSim 2010 and its add-on tool Code-Generator MikroBAT 2010 is exclusively distributed by:
0/1-SimWare Dr. Martin Perner, Waldesruhe 51, D-81377 M�nchen, Germany
At there, you can address an request free of charge postal delivery of a demo version on CD-ROM.
Alternativly, you can request a postal delivery of a CD-ROM via e-Mail, or you use the possibility to
download the software immeditatly in the below download area.
Download Area for Getting the latest Demo Version:
Requesting Further Information
Some informative documents are available below:
- Brief introduction into MikroSim and MikroBAT 2010: Getting Started
- Brief introduction into MikroSim 2000: Getting Started
In case you need still further information or you have some unanswered questions do not hesitate to send an e-mail to info@mikrocodesimulator.de
Site Info
Responsibility of the Site Content according to �5 TMG:
0/1-SimWare , Dr. Martin Perner, Waldesruhe 51, 81377 M�nchen, Germany
E-Mail: info@mikrocodesimulator.de
Disclaimer: This website can contain links to other websites which are hosted by other parties than by 0/1-SimWare. As 0/1-SimWare is not involved in the production of such third-party websites and does not control them, no responsibility can be taken over for their contents. Though providing links to third-party websites 0/1-SimWare does neither approve their contents, nor does it imply any relation to their owners/providers.
Last Web-Page update on 24. May 2020 by webmaster@mikrocodesimulator.de
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