Design considerations for microprogramming languages
Gregory R. Lloyd, Andries van Dam · 1974
Historically, microprograms have been developed using tools which are appropriate to logic designers (block diagrams, register transfer languages), or systems programmers (microcode assemblers). With the growth of user microprogramming, and the increased demands placed upon computer manufacturers for firmware support, improved tools and techniques have been suggested. In particular, microprogram compilers, i.e., compilers which translate high level source statements into sequences of microprogram control words, have been proposed and implemented. The larger issue to be faced is the nebulous task of supporting the needs of a community which includes: