BCPL - Revision history

Jnc: An early example of cross-machine bootstrapping

2025-09-20T14:12:48Z

An early example of cross-machine bootstrapping

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:12, 20 September 2025
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	The compiler was structured as three phases, the third of which converted a machine-independent intermediate language called OCODE, generated by the second phase, into the target machine's [[object code]].		The compiler was structured as three phases, the third of which converted a machine-independent intermediate language called OCODE, generated by the second phase, into the target machine's [[object code]].

	Porting the compiler involved writing a new third phase; compiling that with the existing compiler on the host machine, producing a [[cross-compiler]]; and then running the compiler itself through the cross-compiler, producing object code for a native compiler for the target machine.		Porting the compiler involved writing a new third phase; compiling that with the existing compiler on the host machine, producing a [[cross-compiler]]; and then running the compiler itself through the cross-compiler, producing object code for a native compiler for the target machine - an early example of cross-machine [[bootstrap]]ping of [[portable]] code.

	==External links==		==External links==
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	* [https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1476793.1476880 BCPL: a tool for compiler writing and system programming], Richards 1969		* [https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1476793.1476880 BCPL: a tool for compiler writing and system programming], Richards 1969
	* [http://www.softwarepreservation.net/projects/BCPL History of BCPL] - a wealth of material, including many compilers		* [http://www.softwarepreservation.net/projects/BCPL History of BCPL] - a wealth of material, including many compilers
			* [https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mr10/cpl2bcpl.pdf How BCPL evolved from CPL]
	* [https://www.ancientgeek.org.uk/CPL/ CPL] - a collection of interesting CPL material		* [https://www.ancientgeek.org.uk/CPL/ CPL] - a collection of interesting CPL material
	** [https://www.ancientgeek.org.uk/CPL/The_Main_Features_of_CPL.pdf The main features of CPL]		** [https://www.ancientgeek.org.uk/CPL/The_Main_Features_of_CPL.pdf The main features of CPL]
	** [https://www.ancientgeek.org.uk/CPL/CPL_Elementary_Programming_Manual.pdf CPL Elementary Programming Manual]		** [https://www.ancientgeek.org.uk/CPL/CPL_Elementary_Programming_Manual.pdf CPL Elementary Programming Manual]
	* [https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mr10/cpl2bcpl.pdf How BCPL evolved from CPL]
	* [https://arstechnica.com/features/2020/12/a-damn-stupid-thing-to-do-the-origins-of-c/ “A damn stupid thing to do” — the origins of C] - has good coverage of the CPL story		* [https://arstechnica.com/features/2020/12/a-damn-stupid-thing-to-do-the-origins-of-c/ “A damn stupid thing to do” — the origins of C] - has good coverage of the CPL story

Ak120 at 11:47, 13 June 2025

2025-06-13T11:47:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:47, 13 June 2025
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	'''BCPL''' is a [[programming language]] that was first developed in the late ~~1960's~~. Although little-used ~~nowdays~~, it is historically important as the [[C programming language]] is derived from it. (C can be crisply, and aptly, described as 'BCPL with [[type]]s and terser [[syntax]]'.)		'''BCPL''' is a [[programming language]] that was first developed in the late 1960s. Although little-used nowadays, it is historically important as the [[C programming language]] is derived from it. (C can be crisply, and aptly, described as 'BCPL with [[type]]s and terser [[syntax]]'.)

	Like [[ALGOL]], from which it is descended, it includes modern [[control flow]], including 'block structure'. Unlike Algol, it did not have types; the only type supported was '[[word]]'.		Like [[ALGOL]], from which it is descended, it includes modern [[control flow]], including 'block structure'. Unlike Algol, it did not have types; the only type supported was '[[word]]'.

Jnc: /* External links */ Update Bell Labs URLs (blast Nokia)

2025-06-11T21:09:48Z

External links: Update Bell Labs URLs (blast Nokia)

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:09, 11 June 2025
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	==External links==		==External links==

	* [https://www.bell-labs~~.com~~/~~usr~~/~~dmr/www~~/bcpl.html Martin Richards's BCPL Reference Manual, 1967]		* [https://www.nokia.com/bell-labs/about/dennis-m-ritchie/bcpl.html Martin Richards's BCPL Reference Manual, 1967]
	** [https://www.bell-labs~~.com~~/~~usr~~/~~dmr/www~~/bcpl.pdf BCPL Reference Manual]		** [https://www.nokia.com/bell-labs/about/dennis-m-ritchie/bcpl.pdf BCPL Reference Manual]
	* [https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1476793.1476880 BCPL: a tool for compiler writing and system programming], Richards 1969		* [https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1476793.1476880 BCPL: a tool for compiler writing and system programming], Richards 1969
	* [http://www.softwarepreservation.net/projects/BCPL History of BCPL] - a wealth of material, including many compilers		* [http://www.softwarepreservation.net/projects/BCPL History of BCPL] - a wealth of material, including many compilers

Jnc: /* External links */ Format; add hdr

2025-04-07T21:13:43Z

External links: Format; add hdr

Jnc: /* External links */ +History of BCPL

2025-02-18T21:25:45Z

External links: +History of BCPL

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:25, 18 February 2025
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	** [https://www.bell-labs.com/usr/dmr/www/bcpl.pdf BCPL Reference Manual]		** [https://www.bell-labs.com/usr/dmr/www/bcpl.pdf BCPL Reference Manual]
	* [https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1476793.1476880 BCPL: a tool for compiler writing and system programming], Richards 1969		* [https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1476793.1476880 BCPL: a tool for compiler writing and system programming], Richards 1969
			* [http://www.softwarepreservation.net/projects/BCPL History of BCPL] - a wealth of material, including many compilers
	* [https://www.ancientgeek.org.uk/CPL/ CPL] - a collection of interesting CPL material		* [https://www.ancientgeek.org.uk/CPL/ CPL] - a collection of interesting CPL material
	** [https://www.ancientgeek.org.uk/CPL/The_Main_Features_of_CPL.pdf The main features of CPL]		** [https://www.ancientgeek.org.uk/CPL/The_Main_Features_of_CPL.pdf The main features of CPL]

Jnc: /* External links */ +The main features of CPL

2025-01-20T22:37:03Z

External links: +The main features of CPL

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:37, 20 January 2025
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	** [https://www.bell-labs.com/usr/dmr/www/bcpl.pdf BCPL Reference Manual]		** [https://www.bell-labs.com/usr/dmr/www/bcpl.pdf BCPL Reference Manual]
	* [https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1476793.1476880 BCPL: a tool for compiler writing and system programming], Richards 1969		* [https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1476793.1476880 BCPL: a tool for compiler writing and system programming], Richards 1969
	* [https://www.ancientgeek.org.uk/CPL/CPL_Elementary_Programming_Manual.pdf CPL Elementary Programming Manual]		* [https://www.ancientgeek.org.uk/CPL/ CPL] - a collection of interesting CPL material
			** [https://www.ancientgeek.org.uk/CPL/The_Main_Features_of_CPL.pdf The main features of CPL]
			** [https://www.ancientgeek.org.uk/CPL/CPL_Elementary_Programming_Manual.pdf CPL Elementary Programming Manual]
	* [https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mr10/cpl2bcpl.pdf How BCPL evolved from CPL]		* [https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mr10/cpl2bcpl.pdf How BCPL evolved from CPL]
	* [https://arstechnica.com/features/2020/12/a-damn-stupid-thing-to-do-the-origins-of-c/ “A damn stupid thing to do” — the origins of C] - has good coverage of the CPL story		* [https://arstechnica.com/features/2020/12/a-damn-stupid-thing-to-do-the-origins-of-c/ “A damn stupid thing to do” — the origins of C] - has good coverage of the CPL story

Jnc: /* External links */ +CPL Elementary Programming Manual

2025-01-20T22:27:53Z

External links: +CPL Elementary Programming Manual

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:27, 20 January 2025
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	** [https://www.bell-labs.com/usr/dmr/www/bcpl.pdf BCPL Reference Manual]		** [https://www.bell-labs.com/usr/dmr/www/bcpl.pdf BCPL Reference Manual]
	* [https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1476793.1476880 BCPL: a tool for compiler writing and system programming], Richards 1969		* [https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1476793.1476880 BCPL: a tool for compiler writing and system programming], Richards 1969
			* [https://www.ancientgeek.org.uk/CPL/CPL_Elementary_Programming_Manual.pdf CPL Elementary Programming Manual]
	* [https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mr10/cpl2bcpl.pdf How BCPL evolved from CPL]		* [https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mr10/cpl2bcpl.pdf How BCPL evolved from CPL]
	* [https://arstechnica.com/features/2020/12/a-damn-stupid-thing-to-do-the-origins-of-c/ “A damn stupid thing to do” — the origins of C] - has good coverage of the CPL story		* [https://arstechnica.com/features/2020/12/a-damn-stupid-thing-to-do-the-origins-of-c/ “A damn stupid thing to do” — the origins of C] - has good coverage of the CPL story

Jnc: /* External links */ +“A damn stupid thing to do” - has good coverage of the CPL story

2024-07-08T16:14:32Z

External links: +“A damn stupid thing to do” - has good coverage of the CPL story

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:14, 8 July 2024
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	* [https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1476793.1476880 BCPL: a tool for compiler writing and system programming], Richards 1969		* [https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1476793.1476880 BCPL: a tool for compiler writing and system programming], Richards 1969
	* [https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mr10/cpl2bcpl.pdf How BCPL evolved from CPL]		* [https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mr10/cpl2bcpl.pdf How BCPL evolved from CPL]
			* [https://arstechnica.com/features/2020/12/a-damn-stupid-thing-to-do-the-origins-of-c/ “A damn stupid thing to do” — the origins of C] - has good coverage of the CPL story
	* [https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mr10/BCPLCTSS.html CTSS BCPL] (from MIT)		* [https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mr10/BCPLCTSS.html CTSS BCPL] (from MIT)
	* [https://people.csail.mit.edu/saltzer/Multics/Multics-Documents/MSPM/bz-6-00.680618.bcpl-overview.pdf Multics BCPL]		* [https://people.csail.mit.edu/saltzer/Multics/Multics-Documents/MSPM/bz-6-00.680618.bcpl-overview.pdf Multics BCPL]

Jnc: /* External links */ +How BCPL evolved from CPL

2024-07-07T19:07:13Z

External links: +How BCPL evolved from CPL

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:07, 7 July 2024
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	** [https://www.bell-labs.com/usr/dmr/www/bcpl.pdf BCPL Reference Manual]		** [https://www.bell-labs.com/usr/dmr/www/bcpl.pdf BCPL Reference Manual]
	* [https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1476793.1476880 BCPL: a tool for compiler writing and system programming], Richards 1969		* [https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1476793.1476880 BCPL: a tool for compiler writing and system programming], Richards 1969
	* [https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mr10/BCPLCTSS.html CTSS BCPL] from MIT.		* [https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mr10/cpl2bcpl.pdf How BCPL evolved from CPL]
			* [https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mr10/BCPLCTSS.html CTSS BCPL] (from MIT)
	* [https://people.csail.mit.edu/saltzer/Multics/Multics-Documents/MSPM/bz-6-00.680618.bcpl-overview.pdf Multics BCPL]		* [https://people.csail.mit.edu/saltzer/Multics/Multics-Documents/MSPM/bz-6-00.680618.bcpl-overview.pdf Multics BCPL]
	* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mit/tx-2/TX-2_BCPL_Reference_Manual_May69.pdf TX-2 BCPL manual, 1969]		* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mit/tx-2/TX-2_BCPL_Reference_Manual_May69.pdf TX-2 BCPL manual, 1969]
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	* [https://github.com/LardoBoffin/BBC-BCPL_Overview Acornsoft BCPL] for the BBC Micro.		* [https://github.com/LardoBoffin/BBC-BCPL_Overview Acornsoft BCPL] for the BBC Micro.

	[[Category:Languages]]		[[Category: Languages]]

Larsbrinkhoff: MUD1

2023-06-20T05:42:10Z

MUD1

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:42, 20 June 2023
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	It was intended by Martin Richards, its designer, mostly for systems programming (such as [[operating system]]s, [[compiler]]s, etc), for which the type limitation was not severe. (The lack of any support for [[floating point]] made it a poor choice for classic computational [[application]]s, the main use of computers at the time.)		It was intended by Martin Richards, its designer, mostly for systems programming (such as [[operating system]]s, [[compiler]]s, etc), for which the type limitation was not severe. (The lack of any support for [[floating point]] made it a poor choice for classic computational [[application]]s, the main use of computers at the time.)

	BCPL was also used in a number of other significant places, including much of the early work on the [[Xerox Alto]].		BCPL was also used in a number of other significant places, including much of the early work on the [[Xerox Alto]] and the first [[Multi-User Dungeon]].

	==History==		==History==

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:13, 7 April 2025
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	* [https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mr10/cpl2bcpl.pdf How BCPL evolved from CPL]		* [https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mr10/cpl2bcpl.pdf How BCPL evolved from CPL]
	* [https://arstechnica.com/features/2020/12/a-damn-stupid-thing-to-do-the-origins-of-c/ “A damn stupid thing to do” — the origins of C] - has good coverage of the CPL story		* [https://arstechnica.com/features/2020/12/a-damn-stupid-thing-to-do-the-origins-of-c/ “A damn stupid thing to do” — the origins of C] - has good coverage of the CPL story

			===Various implementations===

	* [https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mr10/BCPLCTSS.html CTSS BCPL] (from MIT)		* [https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mr10/BCPLCTSS.html CTSS BCPL] (from MIT)
	* [https://people.csail.mit.edu/saltzer/Multics/Multics-Documents/MSPM/bz-6-00.680618.bcpl-overview.pdf Multics BCPL]		* [https://people.csail.mit.edu/saltzer/Multics/Multics-Documents/MSPM/bz-6-00.680618.bcpl-overview.pdf Multics BCPL]
	* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mit/tx-2/TX-2_BCPL_Reference_Manual_May69.pdf TX-2 BCPL manual, 1969]		* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mit/tx-2/TX-2_BCPL_Reference_Manual_May69.pdf TX-2 BCPL manual, 1969]
	* [https://github.com/PDP-10/essex-bcpl Essex BCPL] for TOPS-10.		* [https://github.com/PDP-10/essex-bcpl Essex BCPL] for TOPS-10
	* [https://github.com/PDP-10/tenex-bcpl TENEX BCPL] from BBN - source code only.		* [https://github.com/PDP-10/tenex-bcpl TENEX BCPL] from BBN - source code only
	* [http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/xerox/alto/bcpl/ Alto BCPL]		* [http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/xerox/alto/bcpl/ Alto BCPL]
	* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/aarhusUniversity/md/MD-38_The_RIKKE_BCPL_System_Sep80.pdf The RIKKE BCPL System]		* [http://bitsavers.org/pdf/aarhusUniversity/md/MD-38_The_RIKKE_BCPL_System_Sep80.pdf The RIKKE BCPL System]
	* [https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/BCPL Arnor BCPL] for Amstrad CPC and PCW computers.		* [https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/BCPL Arnor BCPL] for Amstrad CPC and PCW computers
	* [https://github.com/LardoBoffin/BBC-BCPL_Overview Acornsoft BCPL] for the BBC Micro.		* [https://github.com/LardoBoffin/BBC-BCPL_Overview Acornsoft BCPL] for the BBC Micro

	[[Category: Languages]]		[[Category: Languages]]