Execution Cycle
See also: Instruction cycleTo execute a program, the little man performs these steps:
- check the Program Counter for the mailbox number that contains a program instruction
- fetch the instruction from the mailbox with that number
- increment the Program Counter (so that it contains the mailbox number of the next instruction)
- decode the instruction (includes finding the mailbox number for the data it will work on)
- fetch the data from the mailbox with the number found in the previous step
- execute the instruction
- store the new data in the mailbox from which the old data was retrieved
- repeat the cycle or halt
Read more about this topic: Little Man Computer
Famous quotes containing the words execution and/or cycle:
“The application requisite to the duties of the office I hold [governor of Virginia] is so excessive, and the execution of them after all so imperfect, that I have determined to retire from it at the close of the present campaign.”
—Thomas Jefferson (17431826)
“Only mediocrities progress. An artist revolves in a cycle of masterpieces, the first of which is no less perfect than the last.”
—Oscar Wilde (18541900)