A holistic approach to computer system design education based on system simulation techniques

Abstract

In the design of competitive application-specific computer systems, it is important to evaluate design alternatives in which commodity hardware and software components are interwoven with tailor-made components. At Chalmers, we are offering a specialization in computer engineering that emphasizes a holistic approach to the design of application-specific computer systems. Apart from offering disciplinary courses in hardware and software technologies, and design methods, it also offers a project course in which the students apply a holistic design methodology to realistic system design projects. A key component in this project course is the use of system simulation techniques, that have been developed in computer architecture research projects, as an important infrastructure to attack design issues spanning all design levels. This paper provides an overview of the educational goals and the course content of the specialization. It then discusses how system simulation techniques have been used in the project course.