DIMP Tutorial Kit / ARM7 Simulator

This repository contains the source code for the Design and Implementation of Microprocessors (DIMP) Tutorial Kit project. The project is split into two main components:

• arm7_sim – the backend simulation library and CLI test runner
• arm7_gui – the graphical user interface built on top of the backend

The project models a simplified ARM7TDMI-inspired three-stage pipeline and provides tools for:

• writing and compiling assembly programs,
• executing them cycle-by-cycle,
• inspecting registers and memory,
• visualising pipeline behaviour.

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Repository Structure

.
├── arm7_sim/        # Backend simulator library and CLI
│   ├── src/
│   │   ├── compiler.rs      # Assembly parsing / compilation
│   │   ├── cpu.rs           # CPU state, cycle stepping, pipeline logic
│   │   ├── instructions.rs  # Instruction decoding / execution logic
│   │   ├── memory.rs        # Memory model
│   │   ├── lib.rs           # Library entry point
│   │   └── bin/
│   │       └── arm7_cli.rs  # Command-line entry point
│   └── tests/
│       └── cpu_tests.rs     # Automated backend tests
│
└── arm7_gui/        # Slint GUI frontend
    ├── src/
    │   └── main.rs          # GUI application entry point
    ├── ui/
    │   └── main.slint       # Slint UI layout
    ├── build.rs             # Slint build step
    └── third_party/         # Bundled UI resources

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Component Overview

1. arm7_sim – Backend

The backend contains the core processor simulation logic.

Main files

• src/cpu.rs
  Implements the CPU state and cycle stepping logic, including:

  • fetch / decode / execute pipeline progression,
  • hazard detection,
  • branch flushing,
  • register and PC updates.

• src/compiler.rs
  Compiles supported assembly syntax into machine code for execution.

• src/instructions.rs
  Defines instruction behaviour and execution semantics.

• src/memory.rs
  Implements the memory system used by the simulator.

• tests/cpu_tests.rs
  Contains backend tests used to validate instruction execution, hazard handling, and pipeline behaviour.

Running backend tests

From inside arm7_sim:

cargo test

Running the backend CLI

From inside arm7_sim:

cargo run --bin arm7_cli

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2. arm7_gui – Frontend

The frontend provides the graphical interface for interacting with the simulator.

Main files

• src/main.rs
  Launches the desktop application and connects the GUI to the backend.

• ui/main.slint
  Defines the application layout and interface behaviour.

Features exposed by the GUI

• assembly editor,
• compile / step / run / reset controls,
• register viewer,
• memory explorer,
• pipeline viewer,
• console output.

Running the GUI

From inside arm7_gui:

cargo run

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Environment Used

The project was developed in Rust using Cargo as the build system.

Backend

• Crate: arm7_sim
• Rust edition: 2024

Frontend

• Crate: arm7_gui
• Rust edition: 2021
• GUI framework: Slint 1.15.1

Additional frontend dependencies

• chrono
• regex
• serde
• serde_json
• rfd

A standard stable Rust toolchain is required. If Rust is not installed, install it through rustup and then build the relevant component using Cargo.

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Build / Run Order

If you want to run the full desktop application:

1. Open a terminal in arm7_gui/
2. Build and run the GUI:

cargo run

Because arm7_gui depends on arm7_sim via a local path dependency, Cargo will automatically build the backend first.

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Notes for Assessment

• The backend and frontend are intentionally separated.
• The backend can be tested independently using cargo test.
• The frontend depends on the backend library and provides the user-facing simulator interface.
• The key cycle execution logic is located in arm7_sim/src/cpu.rs.
• The main GUI entry point is located in arm7_gui/src/main.rs.

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Known Scope of the Project

The implemented processor model is a simplified educational simulator inspired by the ARM7TDMI. It includes:

• a three-stage pipeline,
• cycle-by-cycle stepping,
• stall-based RAW hazard handling,
• pipeline flushing on branch instructions,
• an assembly compiler,
• a memory explorer and pipeline viewer in the GUI.

It is intended as a teaching and learning tool rather than a full ARM7TDMI-compatible implementation.