Introduction
The ICMC Processor is a project initiated by PhD. Eduardo do Valle Simões to teach Computer Organization and Architecture to students at the Institute of Mathematical and Computational Sciences (Instituto de Ciências Matemáticas e Computação － ICMC) of the University of São Paulo, primarily through practical application.
The project allows for the prototyping of a processor (CPU) on FPGA boards. It implements a custom assembly language with which students can program an application (games are suggested) to be loaded directly into the primary memory (RAM) of the board and executed without the intermediation of an operating system. The aim is for students to gain an understanding of general aspects of CPU operation, both in its logical and implementation terms.
This project includes the following components:
- The processor project, described using the VHDL language, for implementation on DE0-CV and DE2-115 boards;
- The assembler software, which reads the assembly language and generates the binary code necessary for execution;
- The simulator software, to simulate the program's operation before submitting it to the (relatively slower) process of writing it to the board's memory;
- An IDE configured for programming in the project's assembly language and integration with its simulator;
- A reference library, containing commented functions and complete games;
- A collection of auxiliary guides, with practical guidance for game development.
At the end of the 1970s, removable media were still relatively expensive, and many personal computers were not connected to any remote network. Thus, to install games on their computers, enthusiasts resorted to sharing the source code among themselves directly or through specialized publications and reprogramming them directly into their computers' memory.
- Find the date this project was initiated;
- Insert an image of students testing a game;
- Confirm the variety of compatible boards.