A Survey of Advanced Microprocessors and HLL Computer Architectures
Silbey, Milutinovic, Mendoza-Grado · Computer · 1986
This survey describes recent developments in the field of high-level language computer architectures for VLSI. Current research focuses on reevaluating the tradeoffs related to an optimal division of complexity between hardware and software. Computer architecture addresses a fundamental question: Where should the hardware-software boundary be. The critical problem faced by architects is the conceptual gap. This conceptual gap results because programmers tend to think at the conceptual level of the HLL; the hardware architecture is typically based upon completely different concepts. Of the examples presented in this article, some reduce the conceptual gap by raising the level of assembly language. Other examples eliminate the conceptual gap entirely by removing the assembly language and making the HLL the machine language.