How to Add a Special Register to ISA in gem5
gem5 is a powerful, open-source CPU architecture simulator used for academic research and industry applications. One of its many features is the ability to simulate a wide variety of Instruction Set Architectures (ISAs), from RISC-V to ARM and x86. A critical part of this simulation is the concept of special registers, which allow users to control and monitor processor states, memory management, and other vital operations during simulation. In this article, we will explain how to add a special register to an ISA in gem5, covering the necessary steps, configuration details, and testing tips.