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Professor Launches Latest Release of Software
Pete Sanderson
Department: Mathematical Sciences
Pete Sanderson, professor of computer science and chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences, has launched the latest version of his computer science education software, MARS (Mips Assembler and Runtime Simulator). According to Sanderson, MARS is used mainly in undergraduate computer science courses to help students learn to write and simulate the running of MIPS assembly language, which is the language used in all computer processors to carry out instructions and commonly embedded in devices such as printers and cell phones. At Otterbein, Sanderson said students enrolled in the courses “Introduction to Computer Science” and “Computer Architecture” use the software to learn and execute assembly language programming. Sanderson said he has worked with his colleague, Dr. Ken Vollmar at Missouri State University, which hosts the MARS web site, to develop the software.

“The initial prototype was actually developed by a student team in 2003 under my direction and some of their code remains,” Sanderson said. “I began working on it in summer 2003 and have developed it during every summer since then and during two sabbaticals. The first release was in 2005. I’ve averaged two releases per year.” Key features of the MARS software, which is called an integrated development environment meaning it supports all phases of software development, include: 1) a specialized word processor, or text editor, that recognizes elements of MIPS assembly language and color-highlights those elements; 2) features for displaying the results of a program as it is running, which highlight memory content and instructions allowing the user to modify these elements as the program is running; and 3) a plug-in feature that allows users to write a software module that cooperates with MARS to monitor program behavior.

Since its creation, Sanderson said he has received comments from professors and students in 22 countries on six continents, and has given eight peer-reviewed presentations at regional and national conferences dedicated to computer science education. MARS is a free, open-source product, and it requires no installation, just a simple download. To learn more about computer science at Otterbein, please visit http://www.otterbein.edu/public/Academics/Departments/MathematicalSciences/MajorsMinors.aspx.