Microcode support software for the Modular Computer System

This paper describes the microprogramming support software tools used to implement and verify microprograms for the Modular Computer System (MCS) at IBM-Owego, NY. The concept of emulating various existing machine language instruction sets to form a "multinative architecture" is the cornerstone of the MCS. Powerful, reliable, and economical microprogramming tools had to be developed to facilitate the large microprogramming effort involved in emulating multiple architectures on the MCS. This paper discusses the software technology behind the microprogramming support software tools (Assembler, Linkage Editor, Computer Logic Diagram Generator, and Simulator) developed for the MCS and analyzes their performance and results.