The programming strategy used with the Manchester University Mark I computer

The paper gives an account of the programming strategy developed for use with the University of Manchester electronic computer Mark I, a typical 2-level storage machine of which a brief description is included. The topics dealt with include: the method of storing and calling in routines; the representation of instructions outside the machine (tracing the reasons for the use of a teleprint or scale-of-32 code); the organization of the library of sub-routines; the mechanism of interpretive routines for double-length and floating-point operations; matrix operations; partial differential equations; an attempt at automatic programming; mistake diagnosis in programmes; and measures for dealing with machine breakdown. Finally, the basis of the strategy is considered in relation to the Mark II machine.