A CONVERT compiler of REC for PDP-8

TL;DR

This paper presents a compiler for the REC language tailored for the PDP-8, demonstrating its adaptability and usefulness in teaching various computer science subjects through a unified control language.

Contribution

It introduces a compiler for REC on the PDP-8, showcasing its application in education and its flexibility across different computer systems.

Findings

REC is effective for teaching Algebra and Numerical Analysis.

The compiler enables the use of REC across various computer facilities.

REC provides a convenient way to define control flow in programming.

Abstract

REC (REGULAR EXPRESSION COMPILER) is a programming language of simple structure developed originally for the PDP-8 computer of the Digital Equipment, Corporation, but readily adaptable to any other general purpose computer. It has been used extensively in teaching Algebra and Numerical Analysis in the Escuela Superior de F\'isica y Matem\'aticas of the Instituto Polit\'ecnico Nacional. Moreover, the fact that the same control language, REC, is equally applicable and equally efficient over the whole range of computer facilities available to the students gives a very welcome coherence to the entire teaching program, including the course of Mathematical Logic which is devoted to the theoretical aspects of such matters. REC; derives its appeal from the fact that computers can be regarded reasonably well as Turing Machines. The REC notation is simply a manner of writing regular expression, somewhat more amenable to programming the Turing Machine which they control. If one does not wish to think so strictly in terms of Turing Machines, REC expressions still provide a means of defining the flow of control in a program which is quite convenient for many applications.