Instant Simulator : A tool for generating simulators from machine-readable descriptions

Abstract: This thesis presents Instant Simulator, a tool for simulating digital signal processors (DSPs) to allow cycle-accurate benchmarking of programs. The purpose of the tool is to assist the Unison compiler when comparing generated machine code between Unison and industrial strength compilers Instant Simulator is designed to reuse parts of Unison and strike a balance between performance and ease of use. DSPs are described in machine-readable specifications and compiled into simulators, partly with the help of tools developed for Unison. A case study is conducted to evaluate Instant Simulator, where the C67x DSP from Texas Instruments is simulated during execution of small test programs. The case study ensures the correctness and completeness of the tool and the simulations executes at a clock rate between 2.6 MHz and 9.7 MHz on a modern mid-tier laptop, depending on the level of detail in simulation.