Hi folks,
I recently added a LAB-8/e (PDP-8/e) to my collection.
Most of the machine is just running fine (except that I still urgently
need at least 8K of core!!). One of the two racks contains the FPP-12
floating point processor.
So I can write programs in FORTRAN IV, compile them and run them on the
FPP. An awsome device - with it, the 8/e becomes a real dual core
machine as the FPP-12 fetches its own instructions from core by data
breaks (getting at most half of the 8's memory bandwidth).
Now I want to run my Mandelbrot set program written for the H316 on the
8/e with FPP as well. The FORTRAN IV code was quite compatible (had to
adjust some of the FORMAT statements and IO channel numbers).
But now I want to write a "putchar" routine needed by the program. On
the H316 that was simple: One CPU, perfectly documented calling
conventions etc.
On the 8/e the FORTRAN IV compiler produces output for the RALF
assembler. RALF is capable of producing machine code for PDP-8 *and* the
FPP as well.
The main part of FORTRAN IV programs (nearly everything except IO) runs
on the FPP. Subroutine calling and argument passing are also done on the
FPP.
I now want to know if there are people out there who are able to help me
to program a simple PDP-8 assembler subroutine that can be called from
within a FORTRAN IV program. Sounds easy - but isn't.
I have written a template function and then compiled to RALF assembly -
I don't understand very much :-(
If anyone has experience with the FPP, RALF and "trapping" (they really
call it that way) to PDP-8 code, **please** get in touch with me!
Many thanks and best wishes,
Philipp :-)
P.S.: In FORTRAN IV the desired subroutine would have a signature like
"SUBROUTINE PCHAR(I)"