mix

Execute a particular file

$ mix run [my_script.exs]

$ mix new [project_name]

$ mix compile

$ mix test

$ mix help

mix [options] file

-a, --assemble
    Assemble the input file, treating it as MIX assembly language source code. The output is typically a MIX binary executable.

-r, --run
    Execute the specified file. This can be a pre-assembled MIX binary or, if combined with --assemble, the newly assembled program.

-d, --debug
    Run the program in interactive debug mode. This allows for stepping through instructions, setting breakpoints, and inspecting the machine's state (registers, memory, I/O).

-o, --output
    Specify the output file name for assembled binaries or simulation logs.

-m, --memory
    Set the simulated main memory size for the MIX machine in words (e.g., 5000 for standard MIX).

-v, --verbose
    Enable verbose output, showing detailed information during assembly, execution, or debugging.

-h, --help
    Display a brief help message and exit.

The mix command, in this analytical context, is conceptualized as a powerful utility for interacting with Donald Knuth's MIX computer architecture, a hypothetical machine extensively detailed in The Art of Computer Programming. It would provide a comprehensive environment on a Linux system to assemble MIX assembly language programs into executable MIX machine code and then meticulously simulate their execution. This command would be invaluable for pedagogical purposes, enabling users to delve deep into low-level programming concepts, observe program flow, inspect memory contents, register states, and interact with simulated I/O devices. It facilitates a hands-on understanding of computer organization, making abstract theoretical concepts tangible. The mix command would bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical experimentation, allowing students and enthusiasts to write, debug, and analyze MIX programs in a controlled virtual environment.

This analysis describes a hypothetical mix command based on common implementations of Donald Knuth's MIX computer simulators. A standard, universally available Linux command named 'mix' for this specific purpose does not exist in typical distributions. Actual implementations found in specific software packages may vary significantly in their command-line interface, options, and features. Users should refer to the documentation of their specific MIX simulator if installed.

The MIX computer is a byte-addressable, fixed-word-length machine. It features 5000 main memory locations, each capable of storing a 5-byte word plus a sign. It includes 8 general-purpose registers (A, X, I1-I6), 2 index registers, and several specialized registers (J for jump return, OV for overflow, CMP for comparison). The machine's 'byte' is defined as 6 bits, allowing a MIX word to store either 5 bytes or a 5-digit number (each digit from 0-63). I/O operations include support for magnetic tapes, disks, card readers/punches, line printers, and consoles.

MIX boasts a concise yet powerful instruction set designed to be representative of real-world machines while remaining simple enough for pedagogical purposes. Instructions are typically one word long and include categories such as arithmetic (ADD, SUB, MUL, DIV), data transfer (LOAD, STORE), logical (AND, OR, XOR), control flow (JMP, JSJ, JGE, JNE, etc.), shift operations, and input/output commands. The instruction set also features field specification, allowing operations to target specific portions of a word.

The conceptual foundation for the MIX machine was laid by Donald Knuth in 1968 with the publication of the first volume of The Art of Computer Programming. Designed as an educational tool, MIX is a theoretical computer used to illustrate fundamental algorithms and data structures without tying them to a specific real-world architecture. Over the decades, numerous software simulators and assemblers for MIX have been developed by enthusiasts, academics, and students in various programming languages (e.g., C, Pascal, Java, Python). These diverse implementations, often available as open-source projects, enable the execution of MIX programs on modern operating systems like Linux, effectively bringing Knuth's theoretical machine to life for practical study and experimentation.

gdb(1), as(1), ld(1), qemu(1)