Custom soft processor emulator MIPS-simulator

Abstract

This project scope is in the area of microprocessor/microcontroller-based applications and computer architecture, and it involves building an emulator for a custom soft processor. Soft processors are custom designed general purpose processors, designed to be implemented in FPGA designs.

This project is implemented in Python to design a model of all the units inside a simple processor, to be used to simulate the actual processor's activities. The goal is to invert new operation code that will reduce the instruction cycles and size of the memory used. This requires a thorough understanding of computer architecture, and programming ability.

An instruction set simulator is used to model and accurately predict the behavior of instructions' execution for this project. It starts with a MIPS model, and will progressively modify according to the iDEA model [1]. The author’s major additions, modifications code and github contributions timeline can be found at Reference [2].