Small Computer Handbook

Document Summary

This 1970 edition of the Small Computer Handbook provides comprehensive documentation for the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) PDP-8/I and PDP-8/L programmed data processors. The manual serves as a technical reference guide for users, system designers, and maintenance personnel.

The document is structured into thirteen chapters and several appendices, covering the following key areas:

• System Overview: Introduces the PDP-8 family, describing their architecture, processor states (Fetch, Defer, Execute, etc.), and the register-based organization of the systems.
• Operating Procedures: Details the use of the operator's console, including how to perform manual data storage, modifications, and standard start/stop operations.
• Programming: Explains basic programming concepts for these computers, including indirect addressing, auto-indexing, logical operations, and two's complement arithmetic. It also provides an overview of available programming languages (such as FOCAL, FORTRAN, and assembly languages) and monitor systems.
• Instructions: Provides detailed technical specifications and operational definitions for various instruction sets, including Memory Reference, Augmented, and IOT (Input/Output Transfer) instructions.
• Computer Options: Describes internal options, such as Memory Extension (MC8/I), Memory Parity (MP8/I), Power Failure Detection (KP8/I), and Extended Arithmetic Elements (EAE).
• Input/Output Facilities: Offers a deep technical dive into I/O interface design, providing specifications for Teletypes, high-speed tape readers/punches, card readers, plotters, CRT displays, magnetic tape systems (DECtape and standard magnetic tape), disk files, and data communication subsystems.
• Interface and Installation: Outlines the electrical characteristics of the input/output bus, cable configurations, and physical installation requirements (space, environment, and power) for various system setups.
• Software Appendices: Provides a extensive index of "Family-of-8" software programs and routines available from the DECUS Library, including diagnostics, utility routines, and scientific applications.