Little Minion Computer

📌 LMC or Little Minion Computer is a toy example of a machine architecture

Usage

This tool enables both the execution of LMC assembly language, via the LMC VM. As well as the assembling of LMC assembly language into machine code, via the assembler.

To run the tool first clone the repo and build the binary:

$ git clone https://github.com/h5law/lmc
$ cd lmc
$ cargo build -r
$ cp ./target/release/lmc ~/.local/bin

After the tool is in your PATH you will be able to execute it, assemble LMC programs and run them.

$ lmc -h
Usage: lmc <command> <flags>

Commands:
	assemble <input file> <output file>
	execute <input file>
	batch <program file> <batch file>

Flags:
	-h, --help	Show this help message
	-v, --verbose	Show verbose output
	-d, --debug	Show debug output

Batching

The LMC VM supports batch execution for testing your programs. In order to do this you must first write a program and then a test file. The test file can preload inputs into the LMC's input_tray which is a queue under the hood.

The test file must have the following format:

test_name;input1,input2,...,input_n;result;max_cycles

Here the only mandatory fields are the test_name and number of max_cycles, however even if not included the other fields must be left empty in order to correctly parse the test file. A test without inputs or result would be:

test_name;;;max_cycles

Examples

The programs directory contains some example programs, in both LMC machine code and LMC assembly that can give some insight into how to write your own programs and how the VM operates.

Design

NOTE: The LMC uses decimal arithmetic not binary arithmetic

Mailboxes

• Mailboxes = Registers
• 2-digit address space
  • 100 “mailboxes” in total
• Each “mailbox” contains a "slip of paper" with 3-digits on it

Calculator

• Calculator = CPU
• Operates on 3-digit numbers
  • Add, subtract
  • Has 1 flag
    • NEG
    • Indicates whether a subtraction caused a negative number

2-digit Counter

• 2-digit counter = program counter
• has 2 buttons on it
  • first button increments the counter by 1
    • operated internally by the minion
  • second button resets the counter to 00
    • operated externally by the user

Input and Output Trays

• The user can put slips of paper with 3 digits on them into the input tray
  • these are to be read when the little minion next looks at the tray
• The little minion can write 3 digits on a slip of paper and put them in the out tray
  • these are to be read by the user

Workflow

The little minion controlling the computer follows the steps listed below:

1. Starts by looking at the counter for a mailbox address (xx)

2. The minion then increments the counter by 1

3. The minion goes to the mailbox xx and reads what is written there

   a. reads 3 digits

4. The minion takes the appropriate action depending on those digits

5. Back to step (1)

📌 This is the fetch and execute cycle

Instruction Set

The little minion will read from the 3-digit number on the slip in the mailbox it was sent to, these are op-codes and instruct the little minion as to what to do.

Op Codes

• LOAD (op-code 5)
  • Instruction 5xx
    • goto mailbox address xx and load the 3-digit number into the calculator
  • This is a copy and does not overwrite the mailbox xx
• STORE (op-code 3)
  • Instruction 3xx
    • goto the calculator and read the 3-digit number displayed
    • goto mailbox address xx and set its contents to be the 3-digit number from the calculator
  • This is a copy and does not overwrite the calculator
• ADD (op-code 1)
  • Instruction 1xx
    • goto the mailbox address xx and read the 3-digit number stored there
    • goto the calculator and add the number to the number already on the calculator
• SUBTRACT (op-code 2)
  • Instruction 2xx
    • goto the mailbox address xx and read the 3-digit number stored there
    • goto the calculator and subtract the number from the number already on the calculator
    • If the number read from memory address xx is larger than the current number in the calculator then raise the NEG flag
• I/O (op-codes 901 and 902)
  • Instruction 901 (READ)
    • goto the IN tray read the 3-digit number there
    • goto the calculator and enter that number in
  • Instruction 902 (WRITE)
    • goto the calculator and read the 3-digit number there
    • goto the OUT tray and leave a slip of paper with that number on it
• BREAK (op-code 000)
  • Instruction 000
    • the little minion rests
• BRANCH (op-code 6)
  • Instruction 6xx
    • set the 2-digit counter to the value xx
    • start fetch of the execution
    • unconditional branch
• BRANCH on ZERO (op-code 7)
  • Instruction 7xx
    • goto the calculator and read the value
      • if zero continue
      • if not zero do nothing else
    • set the 2-digit counter to the value xx
    • start fetch of the execution
    • conditional branch
• BRANCH on POSITIVE (op-code 8)
  • Instruction 8xx
    • goto the calculator and read the value
      • if NEG flag is on continue
      • if NEG flag is not present do nothing else
    • set the 2-digit counter to the value xx
    • start fetch of the execution
    • conditional branch

Calulcator

In the LMC all actions go through the calculator

• To output the value stored in mailbox address xx
  • 5xx
  • 902
• To read from the input and write to the mailbox address xx
  • 901
  • 3xx
• To add the values stored in mailbox addresses xx and yy and store this in xx
  • 5xx
  • 1yy
  • 3xx

Fetch and Execute

The steps taken by the little minion are called the instruction cycle. The instruction cycle has 2 stages:

• Fetch
  • the little minion finds the instruction to execute
    • the minion goes to the counter
    • reads the address there (and then increments it to be ready for the next cycle)
    • the minion goes to the mailbox at that address and reads the 3-digit number in the mailbox
• Execute
  • the little minion performs the work specified in the instruction