Implicit-specification errors and automatic, trace-based debugging
Edward G. Okie, James Daniel Arthur · 1993
Students learning computer organization and assembly language programming often have difficulty understanding the relationship between hardware functions and software instructions. This paper describes how a software tool can help students understand the organization and use of the Motorola 68000 processor family. XSIM68K employs a graphical interface to enhance a traditional “black box” simulator so that students can observe first-hand the effect of a running program on registers, memory, and I/O devices. Multiple data representations allow the student to choose the most appropriate format for data entry and display, which reduces confusion and eliminates conversion mistakes.