Punxa: A Python-Based RISC-V System Simulator for Education

Abstract

The analysis and verification of the integration of hardware and software components is challenging. Traditional HDL simulators, which are often slow and provide low-level analysis tools, are not always effective for simulating the software of processor-based systems. This work presents an interactive co-simulation framework that enhances students' understanding of computer architecture concepts typically obscured by hardware intricacies. This framework facilitates a unified environment for iterative design, enabling detailed analysis and generation of reports and traces to identify system performance, bottlenecks, and find implementation errors. By prioritizing analysis features over performance, this framework serves as a valuable tool for educational purposes and comprehensive examination of the interactions between hardware and software.