MMIX

MMIX is a 64-bit RISC virtual machine. MMIX was created by Donald Knuth together with significant contributions from John Hennessy and Dick Sites. Knuth will use MMIX in further editions of his multi-volume The Art of Computer Programming to illustrate machine-level aspects of programming, especially in relation to the analysis of algorithms.

Knuth deliberately chooses to describe algorithms in both English and a hypothetical assembly language so that the programs will not be outdated easily because of the proliferation of new computer programming languages. Additionally a formalism which is hardware-related helps to illustrate problems of efficiency.

Current and earlier editions of the book use MIX, MMIX's predecessor. MMIX is a completely new design, replacing MIX in its entirety.

References

• Donald E. Knuth; MMIXware: A RISC Computer for the Third Millennium; Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag; ISBN 3-540-66938-8 (1st edition, paperback, 1999)

External links

• Donald Knuth's MMIX page. A brief introduction to MMIX.

• Donald Knuth's MMIX news page. A simulator written in CWEB, a programmer's manual, and example programs.

• Donald Knuth's MMIXware page. Errata for the book.