The Relatively Simple Computer System Simulator -a visualization tool for computer system organization and architecture

Software simulation packages are available for many topics covered in undergraduate engineering programs. These tools are strong in terms of computation, allowing students to design systems and to simulate their behavior. However, most tools are not designed to help students visualize and learn basic concepts. This paper presents the Relatively Simple Computer System Simulator. This visualization tool uses animation to show how a small computer system, consisting of a microprocessor, memory, and an input/output device, functions as it processes instructions. The source and executable files for this simulator are available without cost under the terms of the GNU General Public License.