Visible microprogramming: a computer assisted instruction package

Includes bibliographical references (pages 99-102)Visible Microprogramming is designed as a visual\ud aid for introductory lectures in microprogramming.\ud This software package joins a growing body of\ud inexpensive Computer Aided Instruction (CAI) for\ud Computer Science. Visible Microprogramming is based on\ud the computer architecture in Chapter Four of\ud Tanenbaum's Structured Computer Organization. Three\ud levels of the architecture are considered: assembly\ud language, microprogram, and central processing unit.\ud Each level is presented as a separate screen. A\ud two-tiered set of menus allows the user to: first,\ud select the desired screen, and second, select a\ud software instruction or a set of hardware components\ud for discussion. The user can also step through a\ud single microinstruction or a series of\ud microinstructions that implement an assembly language \ud operator. These instructions are presented graphically\ud on the central processing unit screen. This report\ud first describes the CAI background of Visible\ud Microprogramming. Next, the detailed use of the menus\ud is illustrated. An assembly language operator is\ud traced, frame by frame, through the microprogram. In\ud addition some first experiences with classroom use are\ud discussed. Visible Microprogramming's limitations are\ud considered and possible enchancements proposed.\ud Finally, source code in Borland Turbo Pascal 3.0 is\ud provided