A microprogramming animation

This paper describes a successful project using computer animation to teach the concepts of microprogramming to lower division computer science majors. The students write a simulator for the Mic-1 horizontal microcontroller described in the book Structured Computer Organization by Tanenbaum. The simulation is enhanced by the use of a graphical representation of the machine to animate the simulation. This creative use of computer animation enables the students to see the results of their simulation without having to write an extensive user interface. They can concentrate on implementing the instruction cycle, an activity that directly enhances their understanding of microprogramming and the conventional machine level. The XTango animation package is used, making the animation facility portable to any Unix system with an X display. The user interface and additional instructional material are available via the web.