Title :
The influence of programming languages on the design of MU5
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Comput. Sci., Western Australia Univ., Nedlands, WA, Australia
Abstract :
Atlas was a wonderful machine, with over 1000 instructions, 128 registers in an architecture that allowed double modification, and an address space of 24 bits-at a time when stores were measured in kilobytes. Unfortunately, compiler writers were unable to use these facilities to the full-or anywhere near it. Almost all of the bits of compiled code were zeroes. For MU5, for the first-and probably the only-time, programmers were given the task of designing the order code so that they could fully utilize it. The author explains why compiler writers were unable to use Atlas at all well and how we designed the MU5 order code to enable us to compile code more effectively
Keywords :
digital computers; high level languages; history; program compilers; Atlas; MU5 design; MU5 order code; address space; compiled code; compiler writers; order code design; programming languages; Computer languages; Decision support systems; Extraterrestrial measurements; Fiber reinforced plastics; Programming profession; Time measurement; Virtual reality;
Journal_Title :
Annals of the History of Computing, IEEE
