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Computer Science 597a
Advanced Topics:
Computer Architecture Research Infrastructure Development
David August |
Fall 2000 |
This past year development started on an open source compiler and
simulator for computer architecture research. Participate in this
effort for a semester, influence the design of a tool destined to be
used by many computer architects, and become a permanent addition to
the AUTHORS file.
Announcements
- (Posted 9/13) First class meeting will be Thursday September 14th in CS 102.
Mailing List Archive
Mailing list archive
Project Phase 1
Project Phase 1 Page
Project Reports
Project Reports Page
Course Summary
A fundamental requirement in computer engineering is to evaluate the
relative cost, power, and performance of proposed architectural
innovations. The need for tools to perform this evaluation is
obvious. However, experience has shown that insightful research
necessitates the ability to pinpoint the component factors. Current
simulation frameworks are not tightly integrated with a compiler -
increasingly, a key part of the architecture. In some cases, this led
to the publication of misleading results and of incorrect conclusions.
The goal of this project-oriented course is to complete the
construction of the X-code simulator for the use in your research. The
course will cover the IMPACT compiler and the X-code IR as they are
necessary components of this tool. The course will provide each
participant with a deep understanding of a particular architectural
feature of their choice through specialization during implementation.
Course Features
- Detailed examination of current issues in computer architecture
- Run-time Optimization Architectures
- Hardware support for Speculation, Predication, and Profile Collection
- Gain in-depth understanding of pre-release microprocessors
through the development of a parameterizable simulator
- Intel Itanium
- Transmeta Crusoe
- Experience large team software development
- Learn and employ techniques used by open source initiative
- Collaborate in an environment modeled after Intel's IA-64
reference compiler development effort
Infrastructure Feature Summary
- First open source tool for computer architecture to:
- tightly couple a cycle-accurate simulator with a
powerful ILP compiler
- provide support for traditional as well as non-traditional
compilation methods such as link-time and run-time optimization
- provide a thin layer of abstraction to create an extremely
retargetable framework
- Development initiated at Princeton - further use and development
at Berkeley, Colorado, and Michigan.
Target Participant
- Motivated upper-class EE and CS majors interested in
computer architecture
- First year EE and CS graduate students considering computer
architecture research
- Graduate students who are currently using this infrastructure
- Graduate students whose research would be enhanced by an
extensible ILP compiler coupled with a cycle-accurate simulator
Format
This course is designed to the learn-by-doing philosophy. Lectures
will be given on a need only basis. You will have regular meetings
with your collaborators. The instructor will be one of your
collaborators.
Note
Contributing to the project (not necessarily registering for the
class) is a prerequisite to obtaining local support for this tool in
your research.
Administrative Information
Meetings: TTh 3:00-4:20, Room: CS Building Room 102
Professor: David August -
407 CS Building - 258-2085
Graduate Coordinator:
Melissa Lawson -
310 CS Building - 258-5387
mml@cs.princeton.edu