On the syntax and semantics of horizontal microprogramming languages

Abstract

Horizontally microprogrammABle cemputers provide the potential for efficient use of hardware through parallel operation of internal resources. Present languages for microprogramming such csmputers, however, contain unnatural symbolism, inflexible format requirements, and unnecessary constraints which mA~e their use rather difficult. The intrinsic characteristics of horizontally microprogrammable machines suggest the use of operator precedence languages to program them. The syntax of a language, ANIMIL, is formally described along these lines and some initial ideas on semantics of languages for horizontally microprogrammablemachines are discussed.

Approaches to design of high level languages for microprogramming

“…They only relieve the programmer of making specific address assignments [17]. (c) Circuit logic or algebraic notation.…”

“…These languages consider microprogramming problems to be logic and circuit oriented [17]. (d) Hardware/software description language.…”

“…An IML design might model a low level horizontal microprogramming language such as ANIMAL, which is described by Rauscher [17].…”

The application of programming language techniques to the design and development of microprogramming languages

“…While designers who considered semantics (e.g., Ki3] and [itS) did so only informally, recent studies of formal semantic models[~S for programmlng languages are applicable to microprogramming languages as well. Reports of initial efforts in this area appear in [17,18].…”

The design of some language constructs for horizontal microprogramming

“…At the same time, proposals were made for representing horizontal microinstructions explicitly in the source text [16]. However as far as I know, Chu's CDL [2] is the only instance of a microprogramming language containing facilities for specifying the timing characteristics of micro-operations.…”