Frances-A: A Tool for Architecture Level Program Visualization

By: Tyler Sondag, Kian L. Pokorny, and Hridesh Rajan

Abstract

Integral to computer science education are computer organization and architecture courses. We present Frances-A, an engaging investigative tool that provides an environment for studying real assembly languages and architectures. Frances-A includes several features that enhance its usefulness in the classroom such as graphical relationships between high-level code and machine code, illustrated step by step machine state transitions, color coding to make instruction behavior clear, and illustration of pointers. Frances-A uses a simple web interface requiring no setup and is easy to use, making it easy to adopt in a course.

ACM Reference

Sondag, T. et al. 2011. Frances-A: A Tool for Architecture Level Program Visualization. J. Comput. Sci. Coll. 26, 5 (2011), 283–292. https://doi.org/10.5555/1961574.1961632.

BibTeX Reference

@article{SondagPokornyRajan2011,
  author = {Tyler Sondag and Kian L. Pokorny and Hridesh Rajan},
  title = {Frances-A: A Tool for Architecture Level Program Visualization},
  journal = {J. Comput. Sci. Coll.},
  volume = {26},
  number = {5},
  pages = {283--292},
  year = {2011},
  doi = {10.5555/1961574.1961632},
  abstract = {
  Integral to computer science education are computer organization and
  architecture courses. We present Frances-A, an engaging investigative tool
  that provides an environment for studying real assembly languages and
  architectures. Frances-A includes several features that enhance its usefulness
  in the classroom such as graphical relationships between high-level code and
  machine code, illustrated step by step machine state transitions, color coding
  to make instruction behavior clear, and illustration of pointers. Frances-A
  uses a simple web interface requiring no setup and is easy to use, making it
  easy to adopt in a course.},
}