DECUS 12 BIT SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP NEWSLETTER Number 28 - May 1978

This newsletter from May 1978 for the DECUS 12 Bit Special Interest Group covers administrative updates, significant software developments, and user contributions.

Key highlights include:

• RTS/8 Version 3: A major focus is the upcoming Version 3 of RTS/8, which aims to automate system builds, improve memory management with KT8A support for up to 128K, and refine EAE support. It introduces "SYMBIONT" for OS/78 V2 to enable interrupt-driven routines, enhancing multitasking. Various other modifications to clock handlers, MCR, swapper, and TTY are detailed, along with a "Wish List" of desired features and known design flaws.
• Software Exchange: Discussions from the Spring Symposium address the need to improve the 12-bit SIG's software exchange system, exploring better hardware/software solutions and increased capacity beyond current smaller media. Back issues of the newsletter are now available on microfiche.
• FOCAL Standardization: The DECUS/US FOCAL SIG is actively developing a first draft of a FOCAL standard to unify the many existing versions of the language, with detailed discussions on command syntax, variables, and functions.
• User Contributions & Technical Notes: The issue features several technical notes and user-submitted patches, including fixes for the OS/8 PIP /Y bug, updates to the FUTIL utility (V7B to V7D), and a proposed patch for OS/8's "overfull directory" problem. It also includes information on the DECSYK program for Sykes diskette I/O, a solution for FOTP peculiarities, an explanation of FPP-12 fixed-point signal averaging, and a method for remote KL8E baud rate control. Users also share their experiences with software visibility, plotter integration, and a new FOCAL-78 implementation for IBM 370. Recent program submissions in BASIC are listed.