BIB-VERSION:: CS-TR-v2.0
          ID:: STAN//CSL-TR-77-149
       ENTRY:: December 01, 1994
ORGANIZATION:: Stanford University, Computer Systems Laboratory
       TITLE:: INTERPRETIVE MACHINES
        TYPE:: Technical Report
      AUTHOR:: Iliffe, John K.
        DATE:: June 1977
       PAGES:: 41
    ABSTRACT:: These lectures survey attempts to apply computers directly to
               high level languages using microprogrammed interpreters. The
               motivation for such work is to achieve language
               implementations that are more effective in some measure of
               translation, execution or response to the user than would
               otherwise be obtained. The implied comparison is with the
               established technique of compiling into a fixed
               general-purpose machine code prior to execution. It is argued
               that while substantial benefits can be expected from
               microprogramming it does not represent the best approach to
               design when the contributing factors are analyzed in a
               general system context, that is to say when wide performance
               range, multiple source language, and stringent security
               requirements have to be satisfied. An alternative is
               suggested, using a combination of interpretation and a
               primitive instruction set and providing security at the
               microprogram level.
       NOTES:: [Adminitrivia V1/Prg/19941201]
         END:: STAN//CSL-TR-77-149