RIPHAH INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY, LAHORE

Computer Organization and Assembly Language

Lab 1 Manual
Introduction to VVM

Instructor: Engr. Amna Bibi

Objective:
Explore Visible Virtual Machine (VVM).

Visible Virtual Machine (VVM)

The Visible Virtual Machine (VVM) is based on a model of a simple computer device called the
Little Man Computer which was originally developed by Stuart Madnick in 1965, and revised in
1979. The revised Little Man Computer model is presented in detail in "The Architecture of
Computer Hardware and System Software" (2'nd), by Irv Englander (Wiley, 2000).

The VVM is a virtual machine because it only appears to be a functioning hardware device. In
reality, the VVM "hardware" is created through a software simulation. One important simplifying
feature of this machine is that it works in decimal rather than in the traditional binary number
system. Also, the VVM works with only one form of data - decimal integers.

VVM is a 32-bit application for use on a Windows platform. The application adheres to the
Windows style GUI guidelines and thus provides a short learning curve for experienced Windows
users. Online context-sensitive help is available throughout the application.

VVM includes a fully functional Windows-style VVM Program Editor for creating and
manipulating VVM programs. The editor provides a program syntax validating facility which
identifies errors and allows them to be corrected. Once the program has been validated, it can
be loaded into the VVM Virtual Hardware.

For simplicity, VVM works directly with decimal data and addresses rather than with binary
values. Furthermore, the virtual machine works with only one form of data: decimal integers in
the range ± 999. This design alleviates the need to interpret long binary strings or complex
hexadecimal codes.

When using VVM, the user is given total control over the execution of his or her program.
Execution speed of the program can be increased or decreased via a mouse-driven speed control.
The program can be paused and subsequently resumed at any point, at the discretion of the user.
Alternatively, the user can choose to step through the program one statement at a time. As each
program instruction is executed, all relevant hardware components (e.g., internal registers, RAM
locations, output devices, etc.) are updated in full view of the user.

Lab 1 27-02-25 Page |1

The VVM machine comprises the following hardware components:

• I/O Log. This represents the system console which shows the details of relevant events in the
execution of the program. Examples of events are the program begins, the program aborts, or
input or output is generated.

• Accumulator Register (Accum). This register holds the values used in arithmetic and logical
computations. It also serves as a buffer between input/output and memory. Legitimate values
are any integer between -999 and +999. Values outside of this range will cause a fatal VVM
Machine error. Non integer values are converted to integers before being loaded into the
register.

• Instruction Cycle Display. This shows the number of instructions that have been executed
since the current program execution began.

• Instruction Register (Instr. Reg.). This register holds the next instruction to be executed. The
register is divided into two parts: a one-digit operation code, and a two digit operand. The
Assembly Language mnemonic code for the operation code is displayed below the register.

• Program Counter Register (Prog. Ctr.). The two-digit integer value in this register "points" to
the next instruction to be fetched from RAM. Most instructions increment this register during
the execute phase of the instruction cycle. Legitimate values range from 00 to 99. A value beyond
this range causes a fatal VVM Machine error.

• RAM. The 100 data-word Random Access Storage is shown as a matrix of ten rows and ten
columns. The two-digit memory addresses increase sequentially across the rows and run from 00
to 99. Each storage location can hold a three-digit integer value between -999 and +999.

Lab 1 27-02-25 Page |2

All data and address values are maintained as decimal integers. The 100 data-word memory is
addresses with two-digit addressed in the range 00-99. Each memory location holds one data-
word which is a decimal integer in the range -999 - +999. Data values beyond this range cause a
data overflow condition and trigger a VVM system error.

Trace View

The Trace View window provides a history of the execution of your program. Prior to the
execution of each statement, the window shows:

1. The instruction cycle count (begins at 1)

2. The address from which the instruction was fetched

3. The instruction itself (in VVM Assembly Language format)

4. The current value of the Accumulator Register

VVM System Errors

Various conditions or events can cause VVM System Errors. The possible errors and probable
causes are as follows:

• Data value out of range. This condition occurs when a data value exceeds the legitimate
range -999 - +999. The condition will be detected while the data resides in the Accumulator
Register. Probable causes are an improper addition or subtraction operation, or invalid user
input.

• Undefined instruction. This occurs when the machine attempts to execute a three-digit
value in the Instruction Register which can not be interpreted as a valid instruction code. See
the help topic "VVM Language" for valid instruction codes and their meaning. Probable causes
of this error are attempting to use a data value as an instruction, an improper Branch
instruction, or failure to provide a Halt instruction in your program.

• Program counter out of range. This occurs when the Program Counter Register is
incremented beyond the limit of 99. The likely cause is failure to include a Halt instruction in
your program, or a branch to a high memory address.

• User cancel. The user pressed the "Cancel" button during an Input or Output operation.

Lab 1 27-02-25 Page |3

A simple VVM Assembly Language program which adds an input value to the constant value -1
is shown below (note that lines starting with "//" and characters to the right of program
statements are considered comments, and are ignored by the VVM machine).

// A sample VVM Assembly program to add a number to the value -1.

IN //Input number to be added

ADD 99 //Add value stored at address 99 to input

OUT //Output result

HLT //Halt (program ends here)

*99 //Next value loaded at address 99

DAT -001 //Data value

This same program could be written in VVM Machine Language format as follows:

// The Machine Language version

901 //Input number to be added

199 //Add value stored at address 99 to input

902 //Output result

000 //Halt (program ends here)

*99 //Next value loaded at address 99

-001 //Data value

Lab 1 27-02-25 Page |4

STEP2: Copy the code and paste in the blue editor window.

Lab 1 27-02-25 Page |5

STEP4: Press the Load button

Lab 1 27-02-25 Page |6

Lab 1 27-02-25 Page |7

Hardware View

Lab 1 27-02-25 Page |8

Lab 1 27-02-25 Page |9

1. To take input and Subtract.

2. To take two input as hardcore and Add them.

Lab 1 27-02-25 P a g e | 10