Automatic generation of instruction-set documentation

A method comprising:

• accessing a processor model comprising a hierarchy of instructions;
• converting the processor model into rules describing instruction paths through the hierarchy of instructions, the instruction paths associated with convergent instructions converging into a converged instruction path;
• transforming the rules into a processor instruction manual arranged based on convergent instructions and comprising instruction syntax and description data;
• and
• storing the processor instruction manual in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

A system comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a processor model comprising a hierarchy of instructions describing a functionality of a processor;
• a flattener configured to convert the processor model into rules describing instruction paths through the hierarchy of instructions, each instruction path converging with at least one other instruction path at a convergent instruction;
• and
• a translator configured to transform the rules into a processor instruction manual comprising a plurality of portions, each portion associated with a different convergent instruction and instruction syntax and description data corresponding to the convergent instruction, the instruction manual portions ordered based on the instruction paths that converge at the convergent instructions associated with the instruction manual portions.

A method comprising:

• accessing a processor model comprising a hierarchy of instructions describing a functionality of a processor;
• converting the processor model into rules describing instruction paths through the hierarchy of instructions, each instruction path converging with at least one other instruction path at a convergent instruction;
• transforming, by a processor, the rules into a processor instruction manual, the instruction manual comprising a plurality of portions, each portion associated with a different convergent instruction and instruction syntax and description data corresponding to the convergent instruction, the instruction manual portions ordered based on the instruction paths that converge at the convergent instructions associated with the instruction manual portions;
• and
• storing the processor instruction manual in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.