Facile: A language and compiler for high-performance processor simulators

Architectural simulators are essential tools for computer architecture and systems research and development. Simulators, however, are becoming frustra tingly slow, because they must now model increasingly complex micro-archite ctures running realistic workloads. Previously, we developed a technique ca lled fast-forwarding, which applied partial evaluation and memoization to i mprove the performance of detailed architectural simulations by as much as an order of magnitude [14]. While writing a detailed processor simulator is difficult, implementing fas t-forwarding is even more complex. This paper describes Facile, a domain-sp ecific language for writing detailed, accurate micro-architecture simulator s. Architectural descriptions written in Facile can be compiled, using part ial evaluation techniques, into fast-forwarding simulators that achieve sig nificant performance improvements with far less programmer effort. Facile a nd its compiler make this performance-enhancing technique accessible to com puter architects.