Experiences with writing library software for an attached processor
John D. Pryce · Software Practice and Experience · 1985
Abstract The Floating Point Systems AP120B attached processor (AP) offers a Fortran system which is aimed at making the machine an easy‐to‐use, low‐cost ‘number cruncher’. We report on experience of writing library mathematical software for a PRIME system with an AP120B. An ordinary differential equation code was chosen because it exemplifies a common requirement: the user supplies a subroutine that, on an AP system, forms part of the code executing on the AP. This turned out to be hard to organize conveniently on this system. We discuss the program design, and the deficiencies of the AP120B system that make it less promising than it appears for general scientific computation, and make suggestions concerning the design and implementation of the support software for attached processors.