Quirks UVM
(Universal Virtual Machine)

Goals

The goal of this project is to build some new virtual architecture. It produces some questions: why somebody need new, for example. I've started this project on the last week of the previous millennium because I've not found any suitable VM for my goals at that moment. Then I summarize (after some investigations) the features I'd like to view in a new VM. I've found that some of those goals are achieved in some existing projects, but the project which achieves all of them doesn't exists.

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Ideas

The main idea is construct a virtual machine from pieces called "Arithmetic Modules". Each module is a virtual device with a set of input/output ports. Each module can perform any operation - from very simple to very complex. Then we construct more complex units by connecting these modules. Add some general operations like `move' and branches to it and you will get something like we have gotten.

Our new goal - add a mechanism of describing modules (by XML) and adding new ones to existing architecture.

See this picture ( general view on our codegenerator).

Documentation

The Quirks quickest guide ( online , DVI ).
It is a brief introduction to the UVM principles.
The Quirks UVM architecture overview ( online , DVI ).
It is a more detailed review of the UVM architecture.
The Quirks UVM command set ( online , DVI ).
It is a Quirks UVM commands reference.
The Quirks UVM binary code file format ( online , DVI ).
It is a description of a binary module format which Quirks uses.

Benchmarks

There are some new benchmark results.

News

(11 Apr 2002) First small Ada program was compiled to UVM with our quirks-ada compiler.
(7 Apr 2002) We have added commands for debug printing. So, now we can write "Hello, World!" from Quirks :).
(31 Mar 2002) Bench mark results for 1.1d3 (this version will be released soon) are available here.

Our plans

Our second development release - 1.1d3 will include syntax redesign (block commands instead of jumps) and will allow us to present another benchmarks which will be focused on recursive execution - Ackermann function and Hanoi.
Deadline for this release is 15 Apr 2002.

Resources

We have two mailing lists:

The quirks-UVM-announce mailing list contains information about releases and other valuable events related to the project. You can subscribe by sending your request to quirks-uvm-announce-request@lists.sourceforge.net or through this web page .
The quirks-UVM-users mailing list is intended for various discussions. You can contribute this project by sending a letter (if you have some thinks about the goals or design, fill free to post your message). You can subscribe by sending your request to quirks-uvm-users-request@lists.sourceforge.net or through this web page .

We need your help!

If you would like to participate the development, send e-mail to
( Sergei Lodyagin, the Quirks UVM project leader).

(web master)

Quirks UVM (Universal Virtual Machine)