SimulatedMachine(Assembler)LearntheAnatomy–Then.docVIP

Simulated Assembler-Objects and a Glass Bottom Computer (a polytechnic approach) William G. Verbrugge wgverbrugge@ California State Polytechnic University, Pomona 3801 West Temple Avenue Pomona, CA 91768 Abstract Integrated Development Environments are excellent production tools for intermediate and advanced programming students and even beginners after they have learned the core concepts (stored data, stored programs, computer instructions, and the anatomy of the computer). Most authors of introduction to programming books recognize this by their inclusion of one to twenty pages on this topic. This paper presents how using a simulated assembler (a tool for learning) with a simple assembly language can introduce the beginning student to the core concepts without having to be concerned with all the exceptions and rigor of a full assembler language. The Simulated Assembler with a full viewable Computer Machine (Glass Bottom Computer) and the easy procedures for using it in a first programming course are illustrated. Using the assembler tool described here should provide an increase in learning via a polytechnic (learn by doing) approach. A comparative analysis of using the assembler in an introduction to object programming course is provided. Keywords: assembler, simple machine, software tools, language, programming, object oriented, machine language 1. INTRODUCTION The growth in hardware technology has allowed the theories of modern programming languages to become a reality. In the beginning, developers of computer languages were hindered by the lack of processing speed and memory to implement their vision. Variable names and data were restricted in size and thus not very descriptive of their meaning. Most languages then followed a close representation of the function of the hardware in order to conserve on memory and be resourceful. Still, researchers continued to work on natural languages. One of the good outcomes from learning our industry’s first lang