Revitalizing the computer organization course with the Java virtual machine

  • Authors:
  • H. Paul Haiduk

  • Affiliations:
  • West Texas A&M University, Canyon, TX

  • Venue:
  • Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges
  • Year:
  • 2008

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Abstract

This paper makes a case for the use of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) as the computer architecture of choice for the support of the computer organization course. First, given that the JVM exists for all well-known operating systems running on a multitude of hardware platforms, it is the most prevalent computer architecture in the world today. Secondly, given that the JVM is a virtual machine, it can be and is freed from the constraints of chip-based architectures. Thus, it can have simpler addressing modes, practically unlimited number of registers, and a better and cleaner design than most physical computer chips. A brief introduction to the JVM is provided and some coding examples are provided to show difference between assembly programming for the JVM versus assembly programming for the IA32 architecture.