Hybrid platform-dependent simulation interface

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present disclosure a system and technique for a hybrid platform-dependent simulation interface is disclosed. The system includes a processor and a simulation engine executable by the processor to provide a simulation environment for an application, the simulation engine simulating a non-simulation environment for hosting the application. The application comprises a library having a platform-independent application programming interface (API) for interacting with the simulation engine and a platform-dependent API providing an interface to the simulation engine using a platform-dependent hardware element, the platform-dependent hardware element unaffecting a non-simulation environment when the application is running in the non-simulation environment.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A system, comprising:
 a processor; and   a simulation engine executable by the processor to provide a simulation environment for an application, the simulation engine simulating a non-simulation environment for hosting the application; and   wherein the application comprises a library having a platform-independent application programming interface (API) for interacting with the simulation engine and a platform-dependent API providing an interface to the simulation engine using a platform-dependent hardware element, the platform-dependent hardware element unaffecting a non-simulation environment when the application is running in the non-simulation environment.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the platform-dependent library comprises code for utilizing an unused input/output (I/O) interface of the non-simulation environment to interface with the simulation engine. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the platform-dependent library comprises code for utilizing an unused memory region of the non-simulation environment to interface with the simulation engine. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the platform-dependent library comprises code for utilizing an unused signal bus of the non-simulation environment to interface with the simulation engine. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the platform-dependent library comprises code for utilizing an address range on a bus that is nonexistent in the non-simulation environment to interface with the simulation engine. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the platform-dependent library comprises code to communicate over an I/O bus of the non-simulation environment to a peripheral device that is nonexistent in the non-simulation environment. 
     
     
         13 . A computer program product for a hybrid platform-dependent simulation interface, the computer program product comprising:
 a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising computer readable program code configured to:
 receive a call to a library having a platform-independent application programming interface (API) for interacting with a simulation engine, the simulation engine providing a simulation environment for an application simulating a non-simulation environment for hosting the application; and 
 interface by a platform-dependent API with the simulation engine using a platform-dependent hardware element, the platform-dependent hardware element unaffecting a non-simulation environment when the application is running in the non-simulation environment. 
   
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the computer readable program code is configured to utilize an unused input/output (I/O) interface of the non-simulation environment to interface with the simulation engine. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the computer readable program code is configured to utilize an unused memory region of the non-simulation environment to interface with the simulation engine. 
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the computer readable program code is configured to utilize an unused signal bus of the non-simulation environment to interface with the simulation engine. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the computer readable program code is configured to utilize an address range on a bus that is nonexistent in the non-simulation environment to interface with the simulation engine. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 13 , wherein the computer readable program code is configured to communicate over an I/O bus of the non-simulation environment to a peripheral device that is nonexistent in the non-simulation environment. 
     
     
         19 - 24 . (canceled)