Quip - Quick Assembler for the PDP-12

Summary

QUIP (Quick Assembler for the PDP-12) is a modified version of the DEC Floating Point Assembler designed for the PDP-12 computer. By replacing floating-point handlers with LINC code, ring buffer, and NOPAUSE tape handlers, as well as utilizing core-resident LMODE and PMODE symbol tables, QUIP performs assembly up to four times faster than the standard DIAL Assembler.

Key characteristics and operational notes include:

• Compatibility: It requires a PDP-12 running DIAL-MS and supports various disk drives, line printers, and LINCtape.
• Functional Changes: It introduces the "ORG" pseudo-op (replacing "" and "FIELD"), uses "" for multiplication, and removes the "SEGMNT" pseudo-op.
• Usability: It provides improvements to LMODE/PMODE symbol referencing and includes specific keyboard commands for controlling listing passes and stopping assembly.
• Assembly: The program consists of three source files and a parameter list file, and it is capable of being self-assembled.