Micro-8: An On-Line Assembler

Micro-8 is an on-line assembler program developed by K.F. Kinsy and M.E. Nordberg Jr. for the PDP-8 computer, released in September 1967.

Its primary purpose is to allow users to quickly write and run short to intermediate-length programs by translating typed mnemonic instructions directly into binary code and placing them into specified memory locations for immediate execution. It eliminates the need for users to memorize or look up binary codes.

Key features include:

• On-line operation: Facilitates rapid program entry and testing.
• Table-lookup translation: Converts mnemonic instructions (both micro-programmable "operate" and "memory reference" types) into their binary equivalents.
• Octal addressing: Users must specify addresses in octal; symbolic addressing is not supported.
• Address counter control: The program maintains an address counter that can be initialized, incremented automatically during sequential entry, or advanced for sequential memory examination.
• Memory manipulation: Allows entry of symbolic instructions, raw 4-digit octal numbers (for constants, indices, etc.), or 2-character data (for symbol table expansion).
• Addressing control: Users have control over zero page and indirect addressing bits.
• Memory examination: Includes an octal typeout routine to examine the contents of any memory location.
• Resource efficiency: Unlike some larger assemblers, Micro-8 does not utilize page 0 or high memory pages, making it compatible with interrupt routines and floating-point packages.

The document warns users that Micro-8 is capable of modifying and potentially destroying itself due to its direct memory manipulation capabilities.