User talk:Ian Joyner

B5000 stuff
Could you please have a look at Burroughs large systems descriptors for accuracy? I wikified it per the request of SimonP. I just want to make sure I didn't distort anything. Thanks Avriette 08:11, 25 Apr 2005 (UTC)

update Burroughs link.tooold 18:42, 23 May 2007 (UTC)

ENTR/MCP/STAG
Hi Ian,

thank you very much for putting up that page !

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burroughs_large_systems_instruction_set

May I make some comments.

ENTR (execute a procedure call as given by a tag 7) is a bit more elaborate:

1. MKST/IMKS must be followed by an IWR on the stack (the way it is already described).

2. the new frame so setup up in the stack is linked to the previous MKST/IMKS record, which links to the previous, etc, so RETN always knows what to do. Also stack switch (MVST) records the most recent MKST/IMKS location in the TOS word for when MVST comes back it can find it.

3. ENTR takes the most recent pending activation record from the location one word below MKST/IMKS and checks that the IWR references a PCW (if not then an exception is raised). This is important to mention since ENTR can impossibly work without IRW. Moreover, ENTR can find a SIRW or an IRW. The former usually means a library routine (SIRW can point to another stack), the latter a local routine in the currently running program.

If I may suggest to group MKST/IMKS/ENTR/EXIT and MVST together.

MCP the word is not explained. In the phrase Unisys Clearpath/MCP the Unisys Clearpath part is hardware and the MCP is an operating system. You could write your own OS for running on Burroughs Large Systems/Unisys Clearpath, the latter is not a synonym of the former.

STAG is described with (not allowed in user-level processes). Such a concept is outside the Burroughs Large Systems/Unisys Clearpath world. Instead, the compiler marks the codefile (which contains explicitly used STAG) so that the MCP should only allow to execute the code if the code file attribute was set privileged by a manual operation. Has nothing to do with instructions and CPU privileges. For example, I've written routines in the NEWP dialect of ALGOL on the Large Systems and used STAG the way I wanted.

The same as for STAG applies to OVRD and OVRN but the remark (for use in MCP only) could be read as (intended for use in MCP only). But every compiler (system language compiler as well as user language compiler) on the Large Systems/Clearpath can emit implictly stack setup code and other manipulative code which contains STAG, OVRD and OVRN, without which the compiled program could not be made run.

Cheers Klaus [--Kdabw 13:39, 8 October 2007 (UTC)]

Scattered notes on Amen (AMHN) and AUM
In response to some queries on the Amen Talk page: Judging from the Wiki article on AUM, it appears to derive from meditation on humming. AUM seems to have had a religious significance from quite early (Shrauta Sutras, Mid 1st millenium BCE?) and apparently precedes Buddhism, Jainism, etc as it is found in all of them.

Amen (in Greek Alpha Mu Eta Nu, in Hebrew Aleph, Mem, Nun, in Arabic Alaf Mim Yud Nun [likewise in Syriac]) is related to the Hebrew and Aramaic words for faith (Emunah in Hebrew, Haymanutha in Syriac-Aramaic). The word looks like a typical Semitic word, with a 3 consonant root. The three consonants are Aleph (originally a glottal stop) Mem Nun. The root meaning appears to be something like 'to be firm'. The 'N' is part of the original root word. The earliest recorded usage seems to signify agreement. The term doesn't have a history as a religious (or meditative) focus, in spite of its religious usage.

Modern usage appears to derive from the Hebrew Bible either directly or indirectly, as does ancient usage in magical incantations.

Check for )myn in the Online Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon for a bit more (http://cal1.cn.huc.edu/)

Note, in Syriac and Arabic the first vowel of Amen is Fatkha, Ptakha or Fetkha, which is an 'aah' sound (silent 'h'). The word is never written Alaf Waw Mim Nun.

Checking http://www.blueletterbible.org/ for amen and checking the Hebrew, it does appear that Yiddish and Ashkenazi pronunciation would be Omén, since in Hebrew the first vowel is Qametz, which tends to be pronounced as 'o' in Yiddish and Ashkenazi Hebrew. However the Ashkenazi vowel shifts don't suggest a connection with AUM, which would become something like Oymén, since non-Ashkenazi 'O' and 'Aw' tend to go to 'Oy' in Yiddish and Ashkenazi Hebrew (eg. Moyshe <- Moshe).

I hope this helps to either answer your question or to point out further areas for study. BobGriffin-Nukraya (talk) 22:34, 9 October 2009 (UTC)