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- SUBJECT:RECOVERY TABLE FORMAT
-
- JUST FYI, THERE IS AN ERROR ON P24-13 OF THE GCOS8/DPS8 REFERENCE MANUAL
- (MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE MEGA-DITTY BOOK). WORD 74, BITS 30-35 IS
- DESCRIBED AS MBZ. THIS IS NOT ALWAYS TRUE, THIS FIELD CAN BE SET AS SHOWN
- AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT PAGE. DUMP WILL SET BITS 33 AND 35, I HAVEN'T YET
- VERIFIED THAT SWAP OR CLEANPOINT FUTZ WITH THIS MUST BE ZERO FIELD.
- -----
- STEVE, EVERYONE KNOWS (I'M SURPRISED YOU DON'T) THAT MBZ IS MIGHT BE ZERO.
- -----
- HOW ABOUT CBZ (COULD BE ZERO), OR SBZ (SHOULD BE ZERO).
- -----
- ...OR MY PERSONAL FAVORITE : TMB (TRANSFER ON MAYBE)
- -----
- AND DON'T FORGET TAS (TRANSFER ACCORDING TO SEASON)
- -----
- AN INTERESTING IO COMMAND: SDTCF (SCRATCH DISK THEN CATCH FIRE)
- -----
- OK, IT SEEMS YOU ALL ARE ASKING FOR THIS...
-
- HITHERTO UNREVEALED DETAILS CONCERNING THE NEW ORGANIC ASSEMBLER HAVE
- COME TO MY ATTENTION AND I PASS THEM ON HEREWITH IN THE SPIRIT OF THE
- ORIGINAL WWMCCS DOCUMENTORS.
-
- 1. THE LOAD NEARLY ALWAYS (LNA) INSTRUCTION HAS BEEN DELETED AND REPLACED
- BY THE LOAD VIRTUALLY EVERYTIME (LVE) INSTRUCTION DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
-
- LVE A, *U, *X,J
- (OR LVE,J A, *U,*X)
-
- VIRTUALLY EVERY TIME THIS INSTRUCTION IS EXECUTED, THE J-DESIGNATED
- CONTENTS OF U REPLACE THE CONTENTS OF THE A-DESIGNATED A-REGISTER. THIS
- IS AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE LNA, AS LVE WORKS IN 99 44/100% OF THE TIME.
- THE ONLY DRAWBACK OBSERVED IN USING THE LVE IS THE INCREASED EXECUTION
- TIME. THIS IS PROBABLY DUE TO THE HARDWARE DESIGN WHICH HAS THE OPERATOR'S
- CONSOLE FIELD THE LVE-INTERRUPT VIA MICROPROGRAMMED CIRCUITS AND THEN
- REQUIRES THE OPERATOR TO MANUALLY LOAD THE SPECIFIED A-REGISTER THROUGH
- THE MAINTAINANCE PANEL. AS IS THE CASE WITH MOST INSTRUCTIONS, THE MORE
- YOU AVOID USING THE LVE, THE FASTER NET EXECUTION TIME WILL BE. IN THIS
- REGARD, IT IS WELL TO RECALL THE RECORD-SETTING PROGRAM SUBMITTED BY
- MS. ANN THROPE DURING THE HONEYWELL PROGRAMMER'S MELEE OF 1984, TOWIT:
- NOP
- TRA $-1
- AN EXAMPLE FOR US ALL: ECONOMY, SIMPLICITY, AND SPEED.
-
- 2. THE TEST LITMUS PAPER (TLP) INSTRUCTION HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND IS
- DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
-
- TLP *U, *X,J
- (OR TLP,J *U,*X)
-
- IF THE LITMUS PAPER AT U (PLACED THERE BEFORE EXECUTION TIME) IS BLUE, THE
- NEXT INSTRUCTION IS SKIPPED; OTHERWISE IT IS TAKEN. THE J-DESIGNATOR,
- IF SPECIFIED, CAUSES THE PAPER TO BE TORN, AND THE RESULTANT PIECE TO BE
- TESTED (J=1-015). IN THE CASE THAT AN IMMEDIATE J-DESIGNATOR IS EMPLOYED,
- THE NEAREST THING AT HAND IS TESTED, AND IF FOUND NOT TO BE COLORLESS, THE
- NEXT INSTRUCTION IS SKIPPED; OTHERWISE IT IS TAKEN. THIS INSTRUCTION IS
- SAID TO BE EVEN MORE USEFUL THAN THE CURRENT TEST EVEN PARITY (TEP)
- INSTRUCTION, ESPECIALLY WHEN USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH NEGATIVE ALPHANUMERIC
- FIELDS.
-
- 3. THE TEST RABBIT (TR) INSTRUCTION HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND IS DEFINED AS
- FOLLOWS:
-
- TR
-
- PLEASE NOTE THAT NO OPERAND SUBFIELDS ARE SPECIFIED IN THIS NEW INSTRUCTION,
- AS THEY ARE QUITE SUPERFLUOUS. THE RABBIT IS TESTED, AND IF DECEASED, THE
- REST OF THE PROGRAM IS SKIPPED; OTHERWISE THE NEXT INSTRUCTION IS TAKEN.
- FOR TEACHING PURPOSES (WHERE CUSTOMERS ARE CONCERNED), THE *U,*X OPERAND
- SUBFIELDS SHOULD BE INVENTED, AND THEIR FUNCTIONS CLEARLY DESCRIBED (E.G.,
- "THE RABBIT AT U IS TESTED, AND IF FOUND TO BE THE EASTER BUNNY, THE NEXT
- INSTRUCTION IS SKIPPED", ETC.)
-
- 4. THE JUMP SOMEWHERE (JS) INSTRUCTION HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND IS DEFINED
- AS FOLLOWS:
-
- JS *U, *X
-
- AN UNCONDITIONAL JUMP TO NOT U IS CARRIED OUT, WHERE "NOT U" IS UNDEFINED,
- EXCEPT THAT ITS WITHIN A SEGMENT KNOWN AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. THIS
- INSTRUCTION IS USEFUL IN CASES OF INDECISION AND SHOULD BE DISCUSSED IN ALL
- COURSES WHERE MANAGEMENT ATTENDANCE IS HIGH.
-
- 5. THE TEST AND SET AND QUEUE AND RETEST AND RESET AND REQUEUE AND UNSET
- AND HESITATE (TSQRRRUH) INSTRUCTION HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND IS DEFINED AS
- FOLLOWS:
-
- TSQRRRUH *U, *X
-
- IN OPERATION, THE TSQRRRUH INSTRUCTION PERFORMS A FEW TS'S AND TSQ'S ON
- THE LOCKWORD AT U AND THEN ENTERS A SERIES OF RANDOM MME SEQUENCES, THE
- LENGTH OF WHICH DEPEND ON THE PHASE OF THE MOON. UPON EMERGING FROM THIS
- INSTRUCTION ONE OF TWO THINGS CAN BE COUNTED ON: EITHER 1) THE SYSTEM
- HAS CRASHED IN THE INTERIM OR; 2) EVERYONE HAS LOST INTEREST IN THE RESULTS
- OF THE PROGRAM. THE APPLICATIONS OF THIS INSTRUCTION ARE OBVIOUS, ESPECIALLY
- IN THE GOVERNMENT. FOR YEARS OUR FEDERAL CUSTOMERS HAVE FOUND THE NOP
- INSTRUCTION (AND THE MME GERELC) INSUFFICENT FOR THEIR NEEDS. THIS
- INSTRUCTION SHOULD FILL THAT GAP. TWO JS INSTRUCTIONS NORMALLY FOLLOW THE
- TSQRRRUH.
-
- 6. THE TEST INSTRUCTOR (TI) INSTRUCTION HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND IS DEFINED
- AS FOLLOWS:
-
- TI *U, *X
-
- THE INSTRUCTOR WHOSE NAME IS TO BE FOUND A U AND U+1 (LEFT JUSTIFIED AND BCD)
- IS TESTED AND IF FOUND TO BE NOT WANTING, THE NEXT INSTRUCTION IS SKIPPED.
- OTHERWISE THE NEXT INSTRUCTION IS TAKEN.
-
- 7. THE MACRO DON'T DIRECTIVE HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND WORKS EXACTLY
- LIKE THE DO DIRECTIVE EXCEPT THAT THE GIVEN EXPRESSION E IS NOT ASSEMBLED
- N TIMES. ANOTHER REQUIREMENT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE EVALUATED
- INTEGRAL RESULT OF N SHOULD NOT EXCEED 262K, OR THE SALARY OF A GS-12,
- WHICHEVER IS LARGER.
-
- 8. A HANDY SET OF ASSEMBLY OPERATORS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED AND THEY ARE
- DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
-
- A) !#**+-?;! (IF-NOT-THEN-ELSE-NOT-AND-OR-THEREFOR)
-
- EXAMPLE: IF A AND B ARE ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING, THEN
- A !#**+-?;! B = C,
- WHERE C IS ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING. USEFUL FOR ESTABLISHING
- SEGMENT SIZES.
-
- B) ???? (WHAT-ME-WORRY?)
-
- EXAMPLE: IF A AND B HAVE MEANINGS WHICH HAVE NOT PENETRATED THE
- MIND OF THE PROGRAMMER, THEN
- A ???? B = C,
- WHERE C HAS A MEANING WHICH WILL LIKEWISE NOT PENETRATE
- THE MIND OF THE PROGRAMMER. THIS IS AN ASSEMBLY-TIME
- ANALOGUE OF THE JS INSTRUCTION.
-
- C) -**-++ (NEITHER/NOR)
-
- EXAMPLE: IF A AND B ARE BOTH NEITHER/NOR *ANYTHING*, THEN
- A -**-++ B = C,
- WHERE C IS *SOMETHING*. THIS IS USEFUL FOR MAKING
- SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING.
-
- D) =^= (EQUAL BUT MAYBE NOT)
-
- EXAMPLE: IF A AND B ARE EQUAL, THEN
- A =^= B
- IS EVALUATED AS 1; OTHERWISE
- NOT ( A =^= B )
- IS EVALUATED. THIS IS USEFUL FOR PRODUCING 1 WHEN YOU
- REALLY NEED IT.
-
- E) <<<<<<< (TEENIER)
-
- EXAMPLE: IF A AND B ARE BOTH TEENY, THEN
- A <<<<<<< B = 1;
- IF A IS *EVEN TEENIER* THAN B. OTHERWISE, A IS SUBTRACTED
- FROM B AND THE TEST REPEATED. THIS GOES ON INDEFINITELY
- AND SHOULD PRODUCE A 1 EVENTUALLY UNLESS A IS *REALLY*
- TEENY. IN THIS CASE THE SYSTEM RUSTS OUT BEFOR A RESULT
- IS PRODUCED.
-
- F) - - - (WHEREAS)
-
- EXAMPLE: IF A AND B ARE IN A LEGAL RELATIONSHIP, THEN
- A - - - B = 1;
- OTHERWISE, "A - - - B" IS LIABLE TO BE ANYTHING, EVEN NOTHING.
-
- G) +! (BETTER THAN)
-
- EXAMPLE: IF A IS BETTER THAN B, THEN
- A +! B = 1;
- OTHERWISE
- A +! B = 0.
-
- H) == (MORE EQUAL)
-
- EXAMPLE: IF A IS MORE EQUAL THAN B, THEN
- A == B = 1;
- OTHERWISE
- A == B = 0.
-
- TO SUMMARIZE, CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING EXERCIZE WITH THESE OPERATORS:
-
- A !#**+-?;! B ???? C -**-++ D =^= E;
- <<<<<<< F - - - G +! H == I
-
- WHERE:
- A IS A VACUUM CLEANER;
- B IS A BEE;
- C IS AN AVERAGE GRADE;
- D IS A LETTER OF THE ALPHABET;
- E IS EXCELLENT;
- F IS FINER;
- G IS GOOD;
- H IS PURPLE; AND FINALLY;
- I IS CHARTREUSE.
-
- SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS ARE WELCOME.
-
- MAYBE I'LL EVEN DRAG OUT THE VALGOL MEMO...
- ----
- BOY, AM I GLAD I DECIDED TO EXAMINE THE LATEST G8ARCH NOTICES.
- I ENVISION BEING ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MANY OF THESE WONDERFUL
- INSTRUCTIONS DURING THE SCF IMPLEMENTATION.
- HOWEVER, I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO NOT FIND A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF
- SDTTMS (SHRINK DEVELOPMENT TIME TO MEET SCHEDULE). THE VARIOUS
- ARGUMENTS I'VE TRIED WITH IT SO FAR DO NOT PROVIDE THE DESIRED RESULTS.
- -----
- IF A=B THEN A<<<<<<<B=0 BECAUSE WHEN A IS SUBTRACTED FROM B, NO MATTER
- HOW MANY TIMES, THE RESULT WILL ALWAYS BE ZERO; THUS A CANNOT EVER BE
- <<<<<<< B, UNLESS A == B, IN WHICH CASE !"#$%&'()=?^^?=)('&%$#"! (WHO
- KNOWS???????????????)! MAYBE WE SHOUDN'T USE THESE INSTRUCTIONS, EVER!?
- -----
- HUMMM. I OBVIOUSLY FORGOT ONE MORE OPERATOR WHICH LIZ OBVIOUSLY NEEDS
- FOR THE SDTTMS INSTRUCTION:
-
- OPERATOR: !!!!!!!!!!! SHOUT-INCOHERENTLY
-
- FUNCTION: IF A AND B ARE ARGUMENTS TO OTHER FUNCTIONS, THEN
- A !!!!!!!!!!! B
- PITS THE TWO AGAINST EACH OTHER, WITH THE STRONGEST
- ARGUMENT WINNING. USEFUL FOR SIMULATING STAFF MEETINGS.
-
-