History, features, and commentary on FORMAC

Abstract

The p u r p o s e of this p a p e r is to s u m m a r i z e significant c h a ra c t e r i s t i c s and f e a t u r e s of the FORMAC s y s t e m . FORMAC (FORmula MAnipulation Compiler), an extension of IBM 7090/94 F O R T R A N IV, p e r m i t s a l g e b r a i c manipulation of m a t h e m a t i c a l e x p r e s s i o n s . The FORMAC s y s t e m p r o v i d e s such capabilities as s y m b o l i c differentiation, substitution, evaluation, expansion, and finding coefficients. This p a p e r c o m m e n t s on the p r o j e c t formation, FORMAC capability and language, o v e r a l l a p p r o a c h to implementation, application p r o b l e m s for which the s y s t e m has p r o v e d of value, and the r e s u l t s Of an e x p e r i m e n t a l venture to develop a t i m esharing FORMAC a l g e b r a i c d e s k c a l c u l a t o r . FORMAC S y s t e m Mathematic s P r o g r a m s Time -Sha ring 21 P r o g r a m m i n g LIMITED DISTRIBUTION NOTICE --P r e s e n t e d and d i s t r i b u t e d at the ACM SICSAM S y m p o s i u m , Washington, D. C . , M a r c h 1966.