Book Image

Computer Architecture with Python and ARM

By : Alan Clements
Book Image

Computer Architecture with Python and ARM

By: Alan Clements

Overview of this book

This comprehensive guide offers a unique and immersive learning experience by combining Python programming with ARM architecture. Starting with an introduction to computer architecture and the flow of data within a computer system, you’ll progress to building your own interpreter using Python. You’ll see how this foundation enables the simulation of computer operations and learn ways to enhance a simulator by adding new instructions and displaying improved results. As you advance, you’ll explore the TC1 Assembler and Simulator Program to gain insights into instruction analysis and explore practical examples of simulators. This will help you build essential skills in understanding complex computer instructions, strengthening your grasp of computer architecture. Moreover, you’ll be introduced to the Raspberry Pi operating system, preparing you to delve into the detailed language of the ARM computer. This includes exploring the ARM instruction set architecture, data-processing instructions, subroutines, and the stack. With clear explanations, practical examples, and coding exercises, this resource will enable you to design and construct your own computer simulator, simulate assembly language programs, and leverage the Raspberry Pi for ARM programming.
Table of Contents (18 chapters)
1
Part 1: Using Python to Simulate a Computer
Free Chapter
2
Chapter 1: From Finite State Machines to Computers
10
Part 2: Using Raspberry Pi to Study a Real Computer Architecture

The TC1 simulator program

In this section, we provide the full code for the TC1 assembler and simulator. This will enable you to construct and modify a computer assembler and simulator that can execute the code supported by TC1 or your own instruction set (if you modify TC1).

The assembler is the more complicated part because it involves reading text, analyzing it, and formatting it into binary codes. The simulator itself simply reads each binary code and then performs the appropriate action.

The simulator includes features that we haven’t covered yet in previous sections (e.g., debugging and trace facilities). In the first draft of this book, TC1 was rather more basic with a minimal subset of features. As the book was edited and the program modified, the set of features was enhanced to make it a more practical tool. We first provide brief notes on some of these features to aid understanding of the program.

Single-stepping

A computer executes instructions sequentially...