It simulates a complete mini/mainframe system in a self-contained desktop-sized box containing real lights and switches. The system comprises a 'mini-like' processor with a small amount of main memory running a relatively simple instruction set, and assorted 'mainframe-like' peripherals such as a paper tape reader and punch, mag tapes, exchangeable disks and an operators console.
The machine is currently a ‘work in progress’ so some functions are not yet implemented. Progress is being documented here and in a series of YouTube videos. A few still pictures during construction are in the gallery.
The project is just a personal indulgence re-exploring the 'good old days', but if you are interested in building a similar machine for developing programs and ideas, details are in the construction section below, along with a simulator program for assessing its capabilities and developing PlasMa programs.
The design caters for novices and experts alike; just skip any parts you are already familiar with.
Overview
The machine is programmed using toggle switches to load binary values into registers and memory. The program can then be run or single-stepped, and break-points set for debugging. The internal workings are visible at all times in binary format, and include the program counter, instruction register, accumulator and work registers.PlasMa simulates a microcoded computer so, by loading different microcodes, is able to execute different instruction sets. Three microcodes are provided, so there are 3 instruction sets, all emulating fictitious computer architectures using the same lights and switches on the front panel.
Microcodes 1 and 2
These two are for educational purposes and emulate variants of the ‘Toy’ computer used as a teaching aid at Princeton university, USA.There are 16 functions and 16 registers, all represented as 4-bit nibbles within a 16-bit instruction, making it very easy to mentally translate to and from binary.
The university uses variants of the 16 functions to demonstrate different programming techniques, so PlasMa simulates two of the most common, which I've named Toy‑A and Toy‑B. In both emulations, Princeton’s terminology is retained where possible so that examples and tutorials on the internet can be followed; existing programs should run with little or no change.
Toy-B has been enhanced with several I/O functions taken from the Advanced emulation (microcode 3), including an emulated paper-tape reader and punch.
The Toy instruction set is included by kind permission of Robert Sedgewick and Kevin Wayne at Princeton university, and is described in their book 'Computer Science'. More information can be found in the following links: Booksite, Coursera course
Microcode 3
This is for the more adventurous, and emulates an advanced computer. It builds on the 16 bit, 16 register Toy architecture by adding a 32-bit accumulator and many more instructions, including I/O for accessing emulated peripherals based on removable sd‑cards (TBA), such as a paper tape reader and punch, magnetic tape decks and exchangeable disk drives.The first few words of memory are non-volatile to simulate a small ‘fixed/core store’; this can be programmed with a bootstrap routine for loading larger programs from the peripherals.
Construction
The physical design is fairly simple; the hardware is just a set of lights and switches driven by a standard micro-controller unit (MCU). The MCU software handles all the complexity.The printed circuit boards (PCBs) use standard interface chips so they are not tied to any particular MCU. The current software assumes a single MCU executing the opcodes and driving the lights and switches, but future versions may split this over multiple MCUs for performance.
The following items may be useful if you want to experiment or build one yourself:-
- PlasMaSim simulator program for evaluation or developing programs. The free version supports microcode 1 only (see Downloads); other versions are available supporting either 2 or all 3 microcodes.
- Machine Manual and Instruction Set manuals as .pdf files.These contain full operating instructions, opcode tables and I/O function tables for each microcode.
- Plasm assembler program for assembling source code offline. As with the simulator, different versions are available for handling 1, 2 or all 3 microcodes (see Downloads).
If you are interested in supporting the project, purchasing any
of the above items entitles you to free future updates plus a
discount from the other items below should you choose to buy them
later. Contact me for details.
As a further bonus, if you would like to see your PlasMa programs
running on the real machine, send them in and I will load and run
them live in the next available video.
The following items may also be available:-
- Blank PCBs, etched and drilled. The current design uses 8 unique boards types, 20 boards in total. You don’t need to use all of these if you want to simplify the mechanical layout. The boards use standard interface chips so may be useful for other projects.
- MCU software in compiled .hex format. This is for the current design using 20 boards, but customised versions may be available by negotiation. The source code will not be made available.
- Front and rear panel hole positions in .dxf or .svg format (to be confirmed) corresponding to the lights and switches on the PCBs.
- (To be confirmed) Aluminium panels, cut and drilled.
Downloads
The limited versions of the simulator and assembler are free.
They are fully functional with no time limits, but can only handle
microcode 1 (Toy-A).
Machine Manual
- updated 23-Sep-2020
PlasMaSim1.exe
v3.38* - updated
27-Oct-2020
PlasMaSim Manual - updated 27-Oct-2020
Instruction Set Manual
- updated 23-Sep-2020
Mods History
- updated 27-Oct-2020
Plasm1.exe
v2.34* - updated
27-Oct-2020
Plasm Manual
- updated 27-Oct-2020
Mods History
- updated 27-Oct-2020
Princeton Toy links: Overview (incl. opcode table) Examples
* Some downloadable files are held on the pCloud.com storage site due to website restrictions, so you may see a prompt from pCloud. If there are problems downloading, check your computer is not blocking access to pCloud, or contact me via the email address below.