Talk:Pascal MicroEngine

Compilers

While the manual on Bitsavers lists a Basic compiler as being provided with the MicroEngine, I don't think it was ever delivered. I bought one of the early machines in 1979 and it only had Pascal. After getting it fixed and upgraded in 1983 I found out that the Ada compiler was available, but at that time nothing else (other than Pascal and Ada) was supported by Western Digital.

Note that the manual on Bitsavers is a "Preliminary Edition" and may not reflect the actual system as delivered. -- RTC 02:27, 5 April 2007 (UTC)

I worked at WD on the MicroEngine ('81-83). Don't remember seeing a Basic compiler. -- pbannister 02:37, 5 April 2007 (UTC)

The manual states that only one compiler can be active at a time; to use the BASIC compiler, one must rename various operating system files. However, I've never actually been in the physical presence of a MicroEngine, so I can't say for certain. I've made a note of this. --LordDimwit 15:43, 5 April 2007 (UTC)

Much of the text on the software in that manual looks like it was directly coppied unedited from UCSD's manual for Version II of the p-System, which did come with a Basic compiler (and an assembler). As I said I bought one of the early production MicroEngines at the end of 1979 for $3000 and did not get a Basic compiler (or an assembler, even though the command prompt still had the A(ssmble command that attempted to run SYSTEM.ASSEMBLER just like Version II did). -- RTC 06:40, 6 April 2007 (UTC)

IIRC there was also a Modula-2 compiler - the reason I acquired it. Never worked (the entire box, that is). jsavit 17:31, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

I had my MicroEngine repaired and upgraded in 1983 (originally purchased in 1979). At that time the only other compiler they offered was Ada. It wasn't too many years after that the the product line was discontinued. I am unaware of a Modula-2 that was available under any version of the p-System. -- RTC 18:21, 23 July 2007 (UTC)

Note there were in fact two Ada compilers offered for the MicroEngine. The first was a subset-Ada compiler (never validated!). The subset compiler was partly developed by another company under contract to WD. My first "real" job out of college was to get the subset-Ada compiler to a (somewhat) usable state. The full Ada compiler was an extra(!) cost product, not shipped to all MicroEngine customers. Both were a bit of a joke. The first as it was not close to full Ada, and the second as it could only compile very small Ada programs. -- pbannister (talk) 17:34, 2 May 2010 (UTC)

Bits

At the time of introduction, the only competitors were 8-bit processors (mainly Intel 8080, Z80, and MOS Technology 6502 based systems).

Why is 8-bit processors highlighted here? This article states that the MicroEngine is based on the MCP-1600. According to http://www.antiquetech.com/chips/CP1600.htm , the MCP-1600 is also 8-bit based. Only the MP-1600 seems to be 16-bit based (... if this is what is to be contrasted implicitly). --Abdull (talk) 12:23, 8 October 2010 (UTC)