README

sms32v50 for Windows95/98/NT/2000/XP

Delphi version 6 Source Code

1. The program's purpose

x86 Microprocessor Simulator for students of low level programming.

sms32v50.exe is a Microprocessor Simulator based on the x86 architecture. It is intended for students learning low level programming for the first time. It is written for Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP.

The simulator is based on the low eight bits of the 8086 chip.
It can be single stepped or continuously run. The CPU registers, and RAM contents are made visible.

The simulator is programmed in 8086 like assembly code. This is assembled into machine code that is NOT the same as 8086 code.

It is possible to control simulated traffic lights, seven segment displays, a heater and thermostat, a stepper motor, a lift and a snake in a maze. CALL, RET, INT, AND IRET are available in the registered version. Serious programming problems like multiplexing, procedures, parameter passing, interrupts and recursion can be tackled.

There is on-line help stored in a Windows Help file.

This upgrade from V2.3 adds a keyboard and numeric keypad. Several bugs have been fixed and no doubt some new ones created. The user interface had been updated.

2. How to install

Create a folder for the software.

Unzip the distributed file into this folder.

Run the simulator by double clicking sms32v50.exe.

Create shortcuts to the program if you wish.

It is recommended that students are not given all the example files. Students should be given all the numbered examples such as 02tlight.asm and 99snake.asm. They should also have demo.asm.

Teachers can use the other examples as they wish. Many examples are solutions to the student exercises.

Network Installation

On a network, the program should be installed in a read only directory and run from another directory with write permission for the user. User preferences are saved in the student's working directory in sms32v50.ini. The program looks for help files in the program's exe file directory. If sms32v50.ini does not exist, it will be created with default values.

3. This Program is distributed under GNU/GPL

Author  : C N Bauers
Contact : nbauers@samphire.demon.co.uk

This Microprocessor Simulator is free software: you can redistribute
it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
License, or (at your option) any later version.

This Microprocessor Simulator is distributed in the hope that it will
be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty
of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
General Public License for more details.

You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
along with This Microprocessor Simulator.

If not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/.

4. The program is freely distributable

Please see the GNU/GPL for what you can and can't do.

5. How to contact the author in case of questions or problems

Author		C N Bauers	Teacher of Electronics and Computing.

EMail		nbauers@samphire.demon.co.uk

Web			http://www.SoftwareForEducation.com/

Snail Mail	4a South Road
            Beccles
            Suffolk
            NR34 9NN
            United Kingdom

Please check the website before mailing this address. It was correct in February 2009.

6. Disclaimer

This simulation software is not guaranteed in any way. It may differ from reality. It might not even work at all. Try it out and if you like it, go ahead and use it.