Amp

This document is the programming manual for "AMP," an assembler developed at the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories (AFCRL) in 1963 for the DX-1 (Experimental Dynamic Processor). AMP is a component of the "ASYS" programming system, which also includes a monitor and a compiler.

The manual covers the following key areas of the AMP assembler:

• Source Program Format: Details the structure of coding lines, including location and variable fields, operation codes, symbols, literals, and comments.
• Relocation and Linkage: Explains how the assembler handles program relocation and the linking of subprograms.
• Pseudo-Ops: Provides a comprehensive list and description of assembly-control, storage-allocating, data-generating, and defining pseudo-operations.
• Macro Instructions: Describes how to define and use macros, including nesting, conditional assembly ("iff"), and indefinite repeats ("irp").
• Assembly Listing and Diagnostics: Explains the format of printed assembly listings and the system of error flags used to report syntactical, format, and assembly errors.
• System Usage: Offers guidance on operating AMP on the DX-1 installation, including tape requirements and the use of sense switches.
• Appendices: Includes reference tables for the assembly process, operation codes, pseudo-ops, pre-defined system macros, and error flags.