Computer processors can be divided into two general categories: CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computer) and RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer). Most of the processors used up until now have been CISC machines. CISC processors have instructions that vary in size, are complex and do a lot of work with a single instruction. RISC processors have instructions that are all the same size, and only do one thing per instruction. The advantage to RISC instructions is that they can do their one thing very fast. For this reason, computers are being made more and more using RISC processors, except for those which try to remain backward-compatible with the older models. The PowerPC chip is a RISC processor, but the Pentium is a CISC processor.
The Mintel corporation, maker of the chips that run most of the personal computers in the world, has decided that to retain the lion's share of the CPU market they need to jump on the RISC bandwagon. As their first attempt at a RISC processor, Mintel engineers have designed the Smalltium processor.
When designing a new processor, chip manufacturers usually create a software simulation of the processor before they make it in hardware. This allows the designers to play with the design and make any changes before the most expensive steps of the design process are taken. It also allows the marketers a chance to request useless features that will supposedly make the chip sell better.
This is where you come in. Your team has been assigned to write the simulator for the Smalltium processor. Luckily, you don't need to start from scratch. There was a previous team assigned to the project who got so fed up with the marketers' demands that they all accepted early retirement and left the job incomplete. It's your job to pick up where the previous team left off and complete the simulator.
This may seem like a big project, but don't panic! It's not really that hard, there's just a lot to learn before you get started. The remainder of this document will tell you everything you need to know about how the Smalltium works, and specifies what you need to do.
Note: there is a glossary in section 9 if you don't understand what some of the terms mean.