Mars is a tensor-based unified framework for large-scale data computation which scales Numpy, Pandas and Scikit-learn. mars-project/mars. This is the MIPS simulator we’ll be using for the first half of the course. First, try double-clicking the JAR file. This works for a lot of people. If it doesn’t, you’re probably on a Mac, right? There is a dumb thing preventing mac OS from using the newer JVM.
Here are some useful resources and important software for this course.
Thanks Jarrett Billingsley :)
This lets us write assembly in a nice, friendly environment. (Without needing to transmit our code over a serial cable or whatever just to see if it worked… that was a bleak time. Nobody wants that.)
We will be using MARS for all of our assembly work in this course.It is expected that assignments and projects you produce will run with this specific version of MARS (so be wary if you got a different version from somewhere else!)
Java changed the way the JRE and JDK are distributed. Namely, you can’t really get JREs after 1.8. If you do happen to have JDK 11 or newer installed, you can run MARS and Logisim. Otherwise, you can install the OpenJDK from this link. Pick OpenJDK 14 with HotSpot VM. (The link should default to that).
After installing, open a command line and run java -version to make sure it installed right. It should say something similar to:
If it doesn’t, get help!
Download: MARS_2211_0822.jar
Helpful Notes
Running MARS
First, try double-clicking the JAR file. This works for a lot of people.
If it doesn’t, you’re probably on a Mac, right? There is a dumb thing preventing mac OS from using the newer JVM.
When you double-click a JAR on mac OS, Jar Launcher.app runs it. If there is a JavaAppletPlugin.app file, it will use that to run the JAR, which will default to using Apple’s old VM, which is dumb. This command will move that plugin into your home directory. Idk if the plugin is important or useful, but if you need it back, there it is.
- Go install the OpenJDK as detailed above.
- Open a fresh Terminal, and run the following command (you can copy/paste it):
- it will ask for your computer password.
- Once it’s done, try double-clicking the JAR again. It should work!
If it doesn’t, go into your terminal/command line, and do the following:
- cd to the directory where you have the JAR file.
- run this:
java -jar Mars_2211_0822.jar- try typing java -jar Mars and then hit the Tab key. It will complete the filename for you.
If you get an error saying this:
Then you didn’t install the OpenJDK like I just told you to!!!
If you get some other error or you can’t solve this problem please let me know and show me the exact error you get ASAP!!!
Other stuff
Mars Mips Machine
- (should be fine) You likely want to make sure (under Settings) that “Initialize program counter to global main” is checked at first.
- It may be useful to check under Settings “Clear Run I/O upon assembling” and “Show labels window”, but it is up to you.
- The first thing you probably want to do is resize the window so that the left-hand panel is bigger, so click and drag the right edge of that left panel to make sure we see a large area to type within.
- You probably want the run speed (slider at the top of the window) to be all the way to the right (FAST), but sometimes it is useful to slow things down.
Linux Users
If you use openjdk, you will also need the openjfx package.It is up to you to determine how to install those packages using your Linux distribution’s package manager.
Acknowledgements
This version of MARS is maintained by our own Jarrett Billingsley.You can see a changelog (and any updates) here,but make sure your work still functions using the version posted here for all assignments and labs!
Mars Mips Mac Os X
Logisim (Circuit Simulator)
This program is a very nice way of representing circuits and combinational and sequential logic.We can represent circuits at a fairly low and high level, when necessary.
We will be using this for the second half of the course.
Download: Logisim_2204_0308.jar
Helpful Notes:
Mars Mips Assembler And Runtime Simulator
- Requires Java, the same as MARS, so you should be fine if that is working for you.
Acknowledgements
Mars Mips Download Mac
This version of Logisim is also maintained by our own Jarrett Billingsley, who does so much.You can see a changelog (and any updates) here,but make sure your work still functions using the version posted here for all assignments and labs!