Android-based Simulator to Support Tomasulo Algorithm Teaching and Learning

Tomasulo’s algorithm is a dynamic instruction scheduling algorithm that allows out-of-order execution, to minimize “Read-After-Write” (RAW) hazards and by register renaming to reduce “Write-After-Read” (WAR) and “Write-AfterWrite” (WAW) hazards. This paper describes an Android based simulator that shows how dynamic scheduling is obtained using Tomasulo's Algorithm. The simulator is configurable, while the simulation can be operated in a step by step mode and with animation in order to help students comprehend the concepts of dynamic scheduling anytime, anywhere. General Terms Computer Simulation, Algorithms, Hardware, Applied Computing.