MIPS X-Ray: A MARS Simulator Plug-in for Teaching Computer Architecture

Authors

  • Marcio Roberto Dias Araujo Centro Federal de Educacao Tecnologica de Minas Gerais (CEFET-MG)
  • Flavio Luis Cardeal Padua Centro Federal de Educacao Tecnologica de Minas Gerais (CEFET-MG)
  • Fabricio Vivas Andrade Centro Federal de Educacao Tecnologica de Minas Gerais (CEFET-MG)
  • Fabio Lucio Correa-Junior Centro Federal de Educacao Tecnologica de Minas Gerais (CEFET-MG)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijes.v2i2.3527

Abstract


In this paper, we address the overall project and resulting development of a new plug-in called MIPS X-Ray, intended for the MARS simulation environment of the MIPS architecture, which is widely used in the processes of teaching and learning about computer architecture in various educational institutions throughout the world. Specifically, through the use of graphical animations, the proposed plug-in enables a better understanding of data flow models and the combined operation of functional units given the execution of certain instructions by the architecture processor. Thus, several computer architecture concepts, which are often complex and abstract, can be more easily presented to and assimilated by the students in this learning area. Through the use of a validation source code with the main functions of the MIPS instruction set, the tests performed with the proposed plug-in demonstrate the significant potential of this tool.

Author Biographies

Marcio Roberto Dias Araujo, Centro Federal de Educacao Tecnologica de Minas Gerais (CEFET-MG)

M. R. D. Araujo is with the Department of Computing, CEFET-MG, Av. Amazonas, 7675, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

Flavio Luis Cardeal Padua, Centro Federal de Educacao Tecnologica de Minas Gerais (CEFET-MG)

Flavio Cardeal received the Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil, in 1999, and the M.Sc. and Ph.D degrees in Computer Science from the same university, in 2002 and 2005, respectively. He has been working as an Associate Professor of Computer Engineering at Centro Federal de Educacao Tecnologica de Minas Gerais (CEFET-MG) since 2005. From 1998 to 1999, he participated in an undergraduate program at the Technical University of Berlin in Germany, sponsored by the governments of Brazil and Germany. During this period, he worked as a visiting scientist at the Institute for Machine Tools and Factory Management (IWF). His research interests include Computer Vision, Content-Based Image and Video Retrieval and Engineering Education.

Fabricio Vivas Andrade, Centro Federal de Educacao Tecnologica de Minas Gerais (CEFET-MG)

F. V. Andrade is with the Department of Computing, CEFET-MG, Av. Amazonas, 7675, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

Fabio Lucio Correa-Junior, Centro Federal de Educacao Tecnologica de Minas Gerais (CEFET-MG)

F. L. Correa-Junior is with the Department of Computing, IFMG, Av. Prof. Mário Werneck, 2590, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

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Published

2014-05-03

How to Cite

Araujo, M. R. D., Padua, F. L. C., Andrade, F. V., & Correa-Junior, F. L. (2014). MIPS X-Ray: A MARS Simulator Plug-in for Teaching Computer Architecture. International Journal of Recent Contributions from Engineering, Science & IT (iJES), 2(2), pp. 36–42. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijes.v2i2.3527

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2014)

Section

Papers

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