Algebraic Compiler(ID:5087/hon001)IAL-like system for Honeywell 800Computer Usage Company New York, N.Y. contracted for Honeywell One of the suite of three systems for compiling on the Honeywell 800 Places Related languages
References: employ new methods in many areas of research. Performance of 1 million multiplications on a desk calculator is estimated to require about five vears and to cost $25,000. On an early scientific computer, a million multiplications required eight minutes and cost (exclusive of programing and input preparation) about $10. With the recent LARC computer, 1 million multiplications require eight seconds and cost about 50 cents (Householder, 1956). Obviously it is imperative that researchers examine their methods in light of the abilities of the computer. It should be noted that much of the information published on computers and their use has not appeared in educational or psychological literature but rather in publications specifically concerned with computers. mathematics, engineering, and business. The following selective survey is intended to guide the beginner into this broad and sometimes confusing area. It is not an exhaustive survey. It is presumed that the reader has access to the excellent Wrigley (29571 article; so the major purpose of this review is to note additions since 1957. The following topics are discussed: equipment availabilitv, knowledge needed to use computers, general references, programing the computer, numerical analysis, statistical techniques, operations research, and mechanization of thought processes. Extract: Compiler Systems Compiler Systems A compiler is a translating program written for a particular computer which accepts a form of mathematical or logical statement as input and produces as output a machine-language program to obtain the results. Since the translation must be made only once, the time required to repeatedly run a program is less for a compiler than for an interpretive system. And since the full power of the computer can be devoted to the translating process, the compiler can use a language that closely resembles mathematics or English, whereas the interpretive languages must resemble computer instructions. The first compiling program required about 20 man-years to create, but use of compilers is so widely accepted today that major computer manufacturers feel obligated to supply such a system with their new computers on installation. Compilers, like the interpretive systems, reflect the needs of various types of users. For example, the IBM computers use "FORTRAN" for scientific programing and "9 PAC" and "ComTran" for commercial data processing; the Sperry Rand computers use "Math-Matic" for scientific programing and "Flow-Matic" for commercial data processing; Burroughs provides "FORTOCOM" for scientific programming and "BLESSED 220" for commercial data processing. There is some interest in the use of "COBOL" as a translation system common to all computers. Honeywell Algebraic Compiler This Honeywell compiler aids the creation of scientific and mathematical programs. The programming language is the same basic terminology used by several computer manufacturers and the sub-routine library consists of routines commonly used in solving scientific and engineering problems. Algebraic compilers are being offered for Honeywell 400 and Honeywell 800 data processing systems. To meet the particularly challenging requirements, what might seem like an unusually great effort was put into establishing the fundamental design of the compiler and of the object program it was to produce. Once the design was established, the writing of the compiler proceeded in a fairly straight-forward manner. As a consequence: 1. Each programmer prepared programs and test data in New York. 2. The compiler sections were assembled in Boston using DASH, the assembly program for the H-800 that operated on the Minneapolis Honeywell D-lO00. 3. The results of the assembly were checked out in Boston using Honeywell's simulator of the H-8OO on the D-lO00. 4. When H-800 time was made available, the compiler sections were re-checked and a system tape was built using very little H-800 computer time. 5- Because of the early development, the Honeywell ARGUS assembly and Program Test System were not available. The entire compiler checkout was done using a relocatable octal loader and a rather elementary memory dump program. in Proceedings of the 16th ACM National Conference, January 1961 view details in Proceedings of the 16th ACM National Conference, January 1961 view details in Proceedings of the 16th ACM National Conference, January 1961 view details |