BLODI(ID:3004/blo001)

BLOck DIagram 


for BLOck DIagram

Barry Karafin, Bell Labs, 1966

Automatic compiling from block diagrams


Related languages
BLODI => BLODI-B   Improvement

References:
  • Kelly, J. L.; Lochbaum, C.; Vyssotsky, V. A. "A Block Diagram compiler" view details
          in Bell Systems Technical Journal 4 1961 view details
  • Shepardson, R. C. review of Kelly et al 1961 view details Abstract: This paper describes a computer program written for the IBM 704 and the IBM 7090. The program accepts for an input a source program whose "language corresponds closely to an engineer's block diagram of a circuit, and produces a machine program to simulate the circuit." A circuit consists of a number of boxes, ultimate outputs and original inputs connected together to form the desired signal processing device. The authors list 30 different types of boxes available for the circuit definitions. It is further mentioned that new types of boxes may be added to the system by a programmer. The paper includes a sample problem but no mention is made of running times or program limitations such as maximum number of boxes a circuit may utilize.

          in ACM Computing Reviews 3(03) May-June 1962 view details
  • Crisman, P. A. (Ed.) The time-sharing system: a programmer's guide. (2nd ed.) M.I.T. Press, Cambridge,Mass., 1966 view details Extract: LAnguages and Subsystems available
    This edition is a major revision and extension of the first, to incorporate the changes to the (CTSS) Compatible Time-Sharing System during the past two years. The manual itself is organized into sections for easy referencing and to facilitate future expansion and modification. The manual is maintained on-line within the system in an attempt to keep all system documcutation continuously up to date. A system user can keep his manual updated by periodically inspecting a table of contents and requesting an on-line printout of those sections which have been revised since he last updated his copy.

    Some features of the CTSS which are detailed in this edition are: password logic, introduction of more elaborate accounting features, inter-console message, public files, and macrocommands. A new file system was implemented to remove some previous weaknesses and to test a prototype of the file system which is proposed for the next timesharing system.

    Available languagcs and subsystems include AED (modified ALGOL), BEFAP, COGO-90, COMIT, DYNAMO, ESL DisplaySystem, LAPC, GPSS, MAD, T\IADTHN, SNOBOL, STRESS, and BLOW (BLODI Diagram Compiler). The manual presents a brief description of general subroutines and a description of commands for the creation, editing, compression, printing, and housekeeping of files, program execution and debugging.

          in ACM Computing Reviews 3(03) May-June 1962 view details
  • Karafin, B. J. "The new BLOck Diagram compiler for simulation of sampled-data systems" view details
          in [AFIPS JCC 28] Proceedings of the 1965 Fall Joint Computer Conference FJCC 1965 view details
  • Chu, Yaohan "Digital Simulation of Continuous Systems" McGraw Hill NY 1969 view details Extract: BLODI
    A language for simulating sampled-data systems, called BLODI (BLOck Diagram compiler), was first adopted for use at Bell Laboratories in 1959 [7]. It is a block-oriented language with different kinds of blocks, such as amplifier, clipper, rectifier, and filter.
          in [AFIPS JCC 28] Proceedings of the 1965 Fall Joint Computer Conference FJCC 1965 view details
  • Sammet, Jean E., "Roster of Programming Languages 1972" 38 view details
          in Computers & Automation 21(6B), 30 Aug 1972 view details
  • Wells, Mark B. "A review of two-dimensional programming languages" pp1-10 view details
          in Proceedings of the SIGPLAN symposium on Two-dimensional man-machine communication 1972 , Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States view details
  • Stock, Marylene and Stock, Karl F. "Bibliography of Programming Languages: Books, User Manuals and Articles from PLANKALKUL to PL/I" Verlag Dokumentation, Pullach/Munchen 1973 93 view details Abstract: PREFACE  AND  INTRODUCTION
    The exact number of all the programming languages still in use, and those which are no longer used, is unknown. Zemanek calls the abundance of programming languages and their many dialects a "language Babel". When a new programming language is developed, only its name is known at first and it takes a while before publications about it appear. For some languages, the only relevant literature stays inside the individual companies; some are reported on in papers and magazines; and only a few, such as ALGOL, BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN, and PL/1, become known to a wider public through various text- and handbooks. The situation surrounding the application of these languages in many computer centers is a similar one.

    There are differing opinions on the concept "programming languages". What is called a programming language by some may be termed a program, a processor, or a generator by others. Since there are no sharp borderlines in the field of programming languages, works were considered here which deal with machine languages, assemblers, autocoders, syntax and compilers, processors and generators, as well as with general higher programming languages.

    The bibliography contains some 2,700 titles of books, magazines and essays for around 300 programming languages. However, as shown by the "Overview of Existing Programming Languages", there are more than 300 such languages. The "Overview" lists a total of 676 programming languages, but this is certainly incomplete. One author ' has already announced the "next 700 programming languages"; it is to be hoped the many users may be spared such a great variety for reasons of compatibility. The graphic representations (illustrations 1 & 2) show the development and proportion of the most widely-used programming languages, as measured by the number of publications listed here and by the number of computer manufacturers and software firms who have implemented the language in question. The illustrations show FORTRAN to be in the lead at the present time. PL/1 is advancing rapidly, although PL/1 compilers are not yet seen very often outside of IBM.

    Some experts believe PL/1 will replace even the widely-used languages such as FORTRAN, COBOL, and ALGOL.4) If this does occur, it will surely take some time - as shown by the chronological diagram (illustration 2) .

    It would be desirable from the user's point of view to reduce this language confusion down to the most advantageous languages. Those languages still maintained should incorporate the special facets and advantages of the otherwise superfluous languages. Obviously such demands are not in the interests of computer production firms, especially when one considers that a FORTRAN program can be executed on nearly all third-generation computers.

    The titles in this bibliography are organized alphabetically according to programming language, and within a language chronologically and again alphabetically within a given year. Preceding the first programming language in the alphabet, literature is listed on several languages, as are general papers on programming languages and on the theory of formal languages (AAA).
    As far as possible, the most of titles are based on autopsy. However, the bibliographical description of sone titles will not satisfy bibliography-documentation demands, since they are based on inaccurate information in various sources. Translation titles whose original titles could not be found through bibliographical research were not included. ' In view of the fact that nany libraries do not have the quoted papers, all magazine essays should have been listed with the volume, the year, issue number and the complete number of pages (e.g. pp. 721-783), so that interlibrary loans could take place with fast reader service. Unfortunately, these data were not always found.

    It is hoped that this bibliography will help the electronic data processing expert, and those who wish to select the appropriate programming language from the many available, to find a way through the language Babel.

    We wish to offer special thanks to Mr. Klaus G. Saur and the staff of Verlag Dokumentation for their publishing work.

    Graz / Austria, May, 1973
          in Proceedings of the SIGPLAN symposium on Two-dimensional man-machine communication 1972 , Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States view details
  • Holbrook, Bernard D. and Brown, W. Stanley "A History of Computing Research at Bell Laboratories (1937-1975)" Computing Science Technical Report No. 99 1982 view details Extract: Description
    [ano]ther macro-based high-level language created at Bell Labs include the BLODI language by John L. Kelly, Jr., Carol C. Lochbaum, and Victor A. Vyssotsky for simulating sampled-data systems from their BLOck DIagrams
          in Proceedings of the SIGPLAN symposium on Two-dimensional man-machine communication 1972 , Los Alamos, New Mexico, United States view details