This note outlines the main areas to consider when simulating a computer.
It is a high-level checklist, not an implementation plan, and does not assume whether the simulator will be built from scratch or based on an existing tool.

Scope & Limitations

• Simulation level: digital logic (logic gates, combinational and sequential circuits, CPU-level integration). No analog or transistor-level simulation.
• Single CPU, single core.

Core Considerations

• Simulator: What tool or code will run the simulation? Must allow accurate modeling of components at the chosen level of abstraction.
• Abstraction Levels: How the system will be built up from smaller parts:
  1. Logic gates.
  2. Combinational circuits.
  3. Sequential circuits (flip-flops, registers).
  4. Higher-level components (ALU, memory, control unit).
  5. CPU integration.
  6. Running programs.
• Data & Encoding: How data and instructions are represented:
  • Number representation (binary, two’s complement…)
  • Instruction encoding (opcodes, operands)
  • Memory model (addressing, endianness, alignment rules)
• Testing & Verification: How to confirm the system behaves correctly:
  • Unit tests for components.
  • Integration tests for the CPU.
  • Programs as functional tests.
• Visualization (optional): Possible ways to inspect the state:
  • Text-based inspection.
  • Graphical views of signals, buses, and memory.