BCAI · Simulators

Advanced CPU: Registers, Buses & the Fetch–Decode–Execute Cycle

Explore the CPU in more depth. Follow instructions and data as they move through registers such as the PC, MAR, MDR, CIR and ACC, and see how the Control Unit, ALU, memory and the three buses work together during the Fetch–Decode–Execute cycle. You can also explore pipelining, CPU architecture and performance.

Open simulator → cpu

How a Compiler Works

Follow C# source code through the stages of compilation, from tokens and syntax checking to semantic analysis, optimisation and generated intermediate code.

Open simulator → compiler

Network Hardware Explorer

Explore the physical hardware used to build computer networks. Learn to recognise devices such as routers, switches, hubs, wireless access points, NICs, firewalls, cables and network storage, and discover what each one does.

Open simulator → network

CPU Interrupts

See how a CPU responds to interrupts while running a program. Watch it save its current state, handle interrupt priorities, run an interrupt routine and then continue where it left off.

Open simulator → interrupts

D-Type Flip-Flop

Explore how a D-type flip-flop stores one bit of data. Change the input and follow the timing diagram to see when the output changes and when it keeps its stored value.

Open simulator → d-type

Memory Management: RAM, Virtual Memory & Paging

Explore how an operating system manages memory while programs are running. See RAM allocation, fragmentation, virtual memory and paging in action.

Open simulator → paging

Computer Hardware Explorer

Explore a computer system in interactive 3D. Discover external devices and look inside the PC to learn what components such as the CPU, RAM, storage and motherboard do.

Open simulator → computer system

CPU & the Fetch–Decode–Execute Cycle

Follow instructions and data as they move through the CPU. See the registers, Control Unit, ALU and memory working together during the Fetch–Decode–Execute cycle.

Open simulator → FDE

CPU Multitasking & Time Slices

See how an operating system shares processor time between several running applications. Compare how multitasking works with different numbers of CPU cores.

Open simulator → cpu

Memory Management: RAM, Virtual Memory & Paging

Explore how an operating system manages memory while programs are running. See RAM allocation, fragmentation, virtual memory and paging in action.

Open simulator → memory-management

Networks: LANs, WANs & Topologies

Explore how devices connect and communicate across local and wide area networks. Watch data move around a LAN and across wider networks, then compare different network topologies and see how the layout affects routes and reliability.

Open simulator → networks

Disk Fragmentation & Defragmentation

See how files can become scattered across a hard disk and watch defragmentation reorganise them into more efficient blocks.

Open simulator → disk

Character Sets: ASCII & Unicode

Explore how computers store text using ASCII and Unicode. Click characters to see their codes, binary values, hexadecimal values and UTF-8 bytes.

Open simulator → ascii

Representing Sound Digitally

See how an analogue sound wave becomes digital data. Experiment with sample rate and bit depth to understand sampling, quantisation, sound quality and file size.

Open simulator → sound

Train a Neural Network

Train an AI to recognise road objects and watch the neural network improve. See how weights, hidden layers, training examples and unseen test data affect accuracy

Open simulator → AI

Reinforcement Learning: Q-Learning

Watch AI agents learn through rewards and penalties. See how exploration, experience and Q-values gradually help them discover better routes to a goal.

Open simulator → AI