Showing papers on "Software portability published in 1983"

A practical tool kit for making portable compilers

Abstract: The Amsterdam Compiler Kit is an integrated collection of programs designed to simplify the task of producing portable (cross) compilers and interpreters. For each language to be compiled, a program (called a front end) must be written to translate the source program into a common intermediate code. This intermediate code can be optimized and then either directly interpreted or translated to the assembly language of the desired target machine. The paper describes the various pieces of the tool kit in some detail, as well as discussing the overall strategy.

Matrix Eigenvector Methods

Abstract: Widespread use of the linear variation method in quantum mechanics leads to the need for efficient matrix eigenvalue methods for real symmetric matrices. Efficiency must be judged, however, in terms of the ability to solve a variety of eigenvalue problems on computers of widely different architecture, memory size, and data transfer rates. To further confuse the situation, cost rather than system throughput, is usually of paramount concern. Additionally, algorithms vary widely in ease of programming, simplicity, reliability, portability and availability as part of standard packages. Consequently there are a wide variety of eigenvalue algorithms in use, and a typical quantum laboratory will incorporate several of these into their program package.

Computer aided modeling, analysis and design of control systems - A perspective

Abstract: The paper summarizes experiences of development and use of interactive software for computer aided design of control systems. Different principles for interaction with users having wide ranges of experiences and knowledge are discussed. A comprehensive set of packages for modeling, identification, analysis, simulation, and design are described. Problems associated with structuring, portability, maintainability and extensibility are discussed. Experiences from development and use of the packages in teaching and industrial environments are discussed. Some views on future development of CAD for control systems are also given.

Microcomputers in civil engineering

Abstract: The speed and capacity of microcomputers, coupled with their portability and inexpensiveness, make microcomputers attractive to the engineer. Microcomputers have the greatest potential for civil engineering projects being undertaken by individuals and small firms and for projects of a more modest size. In these situations mainframe computer processing has not been feasible because of costs and inconvenient access methods. Microcomputers can be used even for large engineering firms and large projects because they can support cheaper and more efficient communications, and they can provide graphics, spread sheets, and other utilities that are not available in the mainframe environment. Virtually every area of civil engineering can profit from the use of a microcomputer. Standard utility programs alone can provide extensive and useful capabilities. In addition, a number of applications packages are becoming available to support specific civil engineering activities. Computer-aided design (CAD) and critical path method (CPM) systems are useful in most engineering operations, irrespective of the specific application. Some examples of application-specific software include various coordinate geometry systems for roadway and site layout, earthwork programs that calculate cut, fill, and slope stability, and structural design programs that handle simple beam design and member selection, plane frame and grillage analysis, and two-dimensional stress and truss analyses. In addition, hydraulics analysis and pavement design programs are available, as well as systems for evaluating existing pavement conditions and for assisting in establishing the priority order of maintenance measures.

How to drive a database front did using general semantic information

Abstract: This paper describes a front and for natural language access to databases making extensive use of general, i.e. domain-independent, semantic information for question interpretation. In the interests of portability, initial syntactic and semantic processing of a question is carried out without any reference to the database domain, and domain-dependent operations are confined to subsequent, comparatively straightforward, processing of the initial interpretation. The different modules of the front end are described, and the system's performance is illustrated by examples.

Isolating domain dependencies in natural language interfaces

Abstract: Isolating the domain-dependent information within a large natural language system offers the general advantages of modular design and greatly enhances the portability of the system to new domains. We have explored the problem of isolating the domain dependencies within two large natural language systems, one for generating a tabular data base from text ("information formatting"), the other for retrieving information from a data base. We describe the domain information schema which is used to capture the domain-specific information, and indicate how this information is used throughout the two systems.

Interface Specifications for the SCR (A-7E) Extended Computer Module.

Abstract: This document describes the programmer interface to a computing machine partially implemented in software. The Extended Computer is part of NRL's Software Cost Reduction (SCR) project, to demonstrate the feasibility of applying advanced software engineering techniques to complex real-time systems in order to simplify maintenance. The Extended Computer allows code portability among avionics computers by providing extensible addressing, uniform i/o and data access, representation-independent data types, uniform event signalling, a standard subprogram invocation mechanism, and parallel process capability. The purpose of the Extended Computer is to allow the remainder of the software to remain unchanged when the host computer is changed or replaced.

An operating system interface for transportable image processing software

Abstract: The key to portability is the use of a kernel of routines that interface to the operating system of an individual machine. The kernel provides the sophisticated but standard operating system services required by image processing software. It makes the operating system of each computer appear identical and, when carefully designed, does not pose a difficult implementation problem. Above this interface, all applications programs can be machine independent, written is a structured language, such as RATFOR, without sacrificing power or ease of use on any machine. The details of such an interface design are given. This interface, called the kernel, has been implemented on the IBM 370/VM and the VAX 11/780.

Transporting a portable operating system: UNIX to an IBM minicomputer

Abstract: The “portable” UNIX operating system was transported to an IBM Series/1 minicomputer. The process of transporting is described with emphasis on (1) adapting to the target machine architecture; (2) the selection of the approach taken to transporting; (3) a description of the problems encountered; (4) the degree of portability of the UNIX system; and (5) a summary of the portability lessons learned.

Teaching microcoding principles

Abstract: Students are typically exposed to programming in various languages as part of their experience in computer science. Assembly language and hardware concepts are considered standard knowledge in addition to other related topics. Teaching firmware, the integration of hardware and software, is the subject of this paper. The need for teaching firmware is presented, followed by a description of a project assigned to students. Lastly, a discussion of the portability of the concepts learned is presented.

Software for Managing Multicrate FASTBUS Systems

Abstract: The FASTBUS System Manager software that was designed and implemented on an LSI-ll system using PASCAL is described. Particular attention is given to the file structures, file access mechanisms, and basic routing algorithms. Portability to other machines and languages is described.

The 3B20D Processor & DMERT operating system: Diagnostic tests and control software

Abstract: Comprehensive diagnostic tests and multifeatured control software designed for execution on several host processors help craft to quickly isolate faulty hardware anywhere in the 3B20D Processor. Besides meeting the requirements for Bell System switching systems, the 3B20D diagnostics provide a high degree of modularity and portability using an operating-system-based structure. The diagnostics are used in a wide range of development, production, and maintenance activities throughout the project life cycle. Many features of the system architecture and hardware are provided to allow thorough diagnosis in a time-shared noninterfering manner. Additional features are provided in the diagnostic control structure to extend the DMERT diagnostic capabilities to application systems based on the 3B20D Processor.

Perseus: retrospective on a portable operating system

Abstract: We describe the operating system Perseus, developed as part of a study into the issues of computer communications and their impact on operating system and programming language design. Perseus was designed to be portable by virtue of its kernel-based structure and its implementation in Pascal. In particular, machine-dependent code is limited to the kernel and most operating systems functions are provided by server processes, running in user mode. Perseus was designed to evolve into a distributed operating system by virtue of its interprocess communication facilities, based on message-passing. This paper presents an overview of the system and gives an assessment of how far it satisfied its original goals. Specifically, we evaluate its interprocess communication facilities and kernel-based structure, followed by a discussion of portability. We close with a brief history of the project, pointing out major milestones and stumbling blocks along the way.

ADA floating-point arithmetic as a basis for portable numerical software

Abstract: Ada supports two different schemes for floating-point arithmetic portability - one based on the use of the underlying machine arithmetic and the other based on the 'model arithmetic' that the underlying machine supports. Features of both schemes are explained in the context of their suitability as bases for the production of portable numerical software.

Computer Aided Modeling, Analysis and Design of Control Systems : A Perspective

Abstract: The paper summarizes experiences of development and use of interactive software for computer aided design of control systems. Different principles for interaction with users having wide ranges of experiences and knowledge are discussed. A comprehensive set of packages for modeling, identification, analysis, simulation, and design are described. Problems associated with structuring, portability, maintainability and extensibility are discussed. Experiences from development and use of the packages in teaching and industrial environments are discussed. Some views on future development of CAD for control systems are also given.

A Comparative Evaluation Of Ada And Euclidf

Abstract: The languages Ada and Euclid are compared and evaluated in the context of three application areas: secure systems, real-time systems, and systems programming. Specific issues considered are verification, robustness, structuring, implementation, functionality, and portability. Programming experiments, supported by the MIT test translator and the Toronto Euclid compiler, are described. The program specifications chosen, Wirth’s p1/0 compiler in Pascal, UNIX levels 0–2 in SPECIAL, the Ada radar track manager example, and the Euclid zone example, were chosen to exercise areas of strength in each language and to represent the applications of interest. Conclusions regarding the suitability of Ada and Euclid for these application areas are given.

PLA and ROM based design

Abstract: It is informative to see that there is a continuous spectrum of implementation choices from the simple combinatorial logic circuit to a fully-fledged microprogrammed machine all being derived from the same design philosophy based on an algorithmic description of the solution. It is not difficult to see that programs running on computers are an upward extension of the same theme. Here hardware implementations have been concentrated on and a wide range of options have been illustrated. The arrival of semi-custom and VLSI design methods has extended the options even further. As well as being a well organised method it provides a standard approach that all designers can adopt thereby making designs more understandable. The method provides a good documentation base which also improves the portability of the designs. ASM is not a replacement for the more sophisticated methods of design being produced for VLSI systems, but it does provide a workable method which may suffice until these tools are available.

Experience designing the waterloo port user interface

Abstract: The Waterloo Port operating system was produced by the Software Portability Group at the University of Waterloo as part of an ongoing research project. Port runs on a variety of personal workstations, and is used by researchers and by 120 students annually in fourth-year and graduate real-time programming courses. Many of the concepts in Port evolved from our earlier system, Thoth [1,2]. The emphasis on message-passing semantics and an anthropomorphic view of multi-process structuring [3,4] remains a focus of this evolution; integration of the implementation language with the user interface and file system is more evident in Port [5].

On the feasibility of a micro-processor based image system

Abstract: There are many instances where remote users might want the services of an image analysis system. Most image systems are large with little or no portability. Until recently micro-processor based systems were too slow to provide efficient service. A system is proposed using Progressive Transmission as a basis to exploit the strengths of a "State of the Art" micro-processor which will provide the benefits of low cost and portability without sacrificing performance.

CODESIM: A compact discrete event simulator

Abstract: CODESIM is a compact software facility1 that supports discrete event simulation modeling. Written in Fortran, the CODESIM routines enable facile model construction with a maximum of modeler independence. CODESIM requires no inputs, handles queuing without buffer movement, provides built-in trace control, and permits arbitrary user naming and typing of entity attributes. Statistical routines for data collection and reporting are provided by the CODESIM software—all outputs are in the user domain, as are additional model input parameters, etc. Thus, CODESIM represents a no-frills tool for discrete event simulation. Its advantages include a free programmer structure, speed, size, interactive use, and potential for both machine and language portability.

Designing and Testing Interfaces for Portable Software: Ada TEXT_IO as an Example

Abstract: Relatively little software is actually designed and tested on a wide variety of hardware architectures Although lip service is often paid to producing and implementing portable designs, in practice, it is hard to avoid hidden (and even conscious) dependencies of the system that is first used to support the software Portability and generality are often compromised in favour of meeting a schedule or satisfying efficiency requirements

Portable medical laboratory applications software

Abstract: Portability implies that a program can be run on a variety of computers with minimal sofware revision. The advantages of portability are outlined and design considerations for portable laboratory software are discussed. Specific approaches for achieving this goal are presented.