CPU design simplified

Abstract

The first goal of this paper is to introduce a simple and customizable soft CPU named VerySimpleCPU (VSCPU), which could be easily implemented on FPGAs with a complete toolchain including instruction set simulator, assembler, and C compiler. The second goal is to offer to use this CPU as a teaching material within computer architecture/organization courses for students to understand the essentials and inner workings of a CPU better by designing a simple one. In addition to this, it is also aimed to teach writing code both in assembly level and C level for the CPU designed to understand what a compiler is and why it is needed.