Introducing computer structure by machine simulation

A simple computer simulator used to introduce freshmen engineering students to machine structure through assembly programmable is described. A four-week course module is described, suited to the IEEE curriculum recommendations. It is built around a simulator called Simian and an accompanying assembler keyed to the IEEE-694 standard. Simian simulates a byte-addressable 32-bit machine, continuously displaying register contents and selected portions of memory. Version of Simian exist for both Unix and MS-DOS, permitting students to use it both in the laboratory and on personal computers. Learning time for Simian itself, a critical parameters in simulators designed for teaching, is 1-2 hours for students with little prior computer experience