MMIX-PIPE

Abstract

This program is the heart of the meta-simulator for the ultraconfigurable MMIX pipeline: It defines the MMIX_run routine, which does most of the work. Another routine, MMIX_init, is also defined here, and so is a header file called mmix_pipe.h. The header file is used by the main routine and by other routines like MMIX_config, which are compiled separately.

Readers of this program should be familiar with the explanation of MMIX architecture as presented in the main program module for MMMIX.

A lot of subtle things can happen when instructions are executed in parallel. Therefore this simulator ranks among the most interesting and instructive programs in the author’s experience. The author has tried his best to make everything correct … but the chances for error are great. Anyone who discovers a bug is therefore urged to report it as soon as possible; please see http://mmix.cs.hm.edu/bugs/ for instructions.

It sort of boggles the mind when one realizes that the present program might someday be translated by a C compiler for MMIX and used to simulate itself.