Retrospective on high-level language computer architecture

ABSTRACT

High-level language computers (HLLC) have attracted interest in the architectural and programming community during the last 15 years; proposals have been made for machines directed towards the execution of various languages such as ALGOL,1,2 APL,3,4,5 BASIC,6,7 COBOL,8,9 FORTRAN,10,ll LISP,12,13 PASCAL,14 PL/I,15,16,17 SNOBOL,18,19 and a host of specialized languages. Though numerous designs have been proposed, only a handful of high-level language computers have actually been implemented.4,7,9,20,21 In examining the goals and successes of high-level language computers, the authors have found that most designs suffer from fundamental problems stemming from a misunderstanding of the issues involved in the design, use, and implementation of cost-effective computer systems. It is the intent of this paper to identify and discuss several issues applicable to high-level language computer architecture, to provide a more concrete definition of high-level language computers, and to suggest a direction for high-level language computer architectures of the future.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.1 PROCESSOR ARCHITECTURES
      C.1.3 Other Architecture Styles

General Terms:
Design, Languages