Introduction to Programming

This document serves as a comprehensive training text and reference handbook for the Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-8 family of small, general-purpose computers. It covers the fundamentals of programming, including machine language and common programming languages.

The document is organized into the following sections:

• Computer Fundamentals: Covers number systems (binary, octal, and decimal), arithmetic and logical operations, and general computer organization (arithmetic, control, memory, and input/output units).
• Programming Fundamentals: Introduces the PDP-8 instruction set, including memory reference instructions, operate microinstructions, and input/output transfer (IOT) instructions.
• Elementary Programming Techniques: Details program preparation, symbols, subroutines, address modification, and looping.
• System Description and Operation: Explains how to operate the computer console for manual loading, checking, and running programs, as well as the operation of Teletype and peripheral equipment.
• Input/Output Programming: Covers I/O transfer methods, including programmed transfers, program interrupts, and data breaks.
• Operating the System Software: Describes PDP-8 system software, including the Symbolic Editor, assemblers (PAL III, MACRO-8), and debuggers (DDT-8, ODT-8).
• Disk Monitor and Time-Sharing Systems: Provides an overview of these operating systems for users of PDP-8 systems with expanded storage.
• FOCAL Programming: Offers a complete student text on the use of FOCAL, a conversational interpreter for numerical problems.
• PDP-8 in the Sciences: Discusses scientific applications, data collection, and analysis, with specific examples like gas-liquid chromatography, pulse height analysis, and mass spectroscopy.
• Digital Equipment Computer Users Society (DECUS): Introduces the DECUS organization, its program library, and activities.
• Appendices: Provides answers to exercises, character codes (ASCII, card reader), flowchart guides, and instruction tables.