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Initial commit: implementation of the Universal Machine

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Dimitri Lozeve 2021-01-11 21:15:22 +01:00
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Order for Construction Standard Sand of Pennsylvania Co.
Client: Cult of the Bound Variable
Object: UM-32 "Universal Machine"
-----------------------------------------------------------------
21 July 19106
Physical Specifications.
------------------------
The machine shall consist of the following components:
* An infinite supply of sandstone platters, with room on each
for thirty-two small marks, which we call "bits."
least meaningful bit
|
v
.--------------------------------.
|VUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA9876543210|
`--------------------------------'
^
|
most meaningful bit
Figure 0. Platters
Each bit may be the 0 bit or the 1 bit. Using the system of
"unsigned 32-bit numbers" (see patent #4,294,967,295) the
markings on these platters may also denote numbers.
* Eight distinct general-purpose registers, capable of holding one
platter each.
* A collection of arrays of platters, each referenced by a distinct
32-bit identifier. One distinguished array is referenced by 0
and stores the "program." This array will be referred to as the
'0' array.
* A 1x1 character resolution console capable of displaying glyphs
from the "ASCII character set" (see patent #127) and performing
input and output of "unsigned 8-bit characters" (see patent
#255).
Behavior.
---------
The machine shall be initialized with a '0' array whose contents
shall be read from a "program" scroll. All registers shall be
initialized with platters of value '0'. The execution finger shall
point to the first platter of the '0' array, which has offset zero.
When reading programs from legacy "unsigned 8-bit character"
scrolls, a series of four bytes A,B,C,D should be interpreted with
'A' as the most magnificent byte, and 'D' as the most shoddy, with
'B' and 'C' considered lovely and mediocre respectively.
Once initialized, the machine begins its Spin Cycle. In each cycle
of the Universal Machine, an Operator shall be retrieved from the
platter that is indicated by the execution finger. The sections
below describe the operators that may obtain. Before this operator
is discharged, the execution finger shall be advanced to the next
platter, if any.
Operators.
----------
The Universal Machine may produce 14 Operators. The number of the
operator is described by the most meaningful four bits of the
instruction platter.
.--------------------------------.
|VUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA9876543210|
`--------------------------------'
^^^^
|
operator number
Figure 1. Operator Description
Standard Operators.
-------------------
Each Standard Operator performs an errand using three registers,
called A, B, and C. Each register is described by a three bit
segment of the instruction platter. The register C is described by
the three least meaningful bits, the register B by the three next
more meaningful than those, and the register A by the three next
more meaningful than those.
A C
| |
vvv vvv
.--------------------------------.
|VUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA9876543210|
`--------------------------------'
^^^^ ^^^
| |
operator number B
Figure 2. Standard Operators
A description of each basic Operator follows.
Operator #0. Conditional Move.
The register A receives the value in register B,
unless the register C contains 0.
#1. Array Index.
The register A receives the value stored at offset
in register C in the array identified by B.
#2. Array Amendment.
The array identified by A is amended at the offset
in register B to store the value in register C.
#3. Addition.
The register A receives the value in register B plus
the value in register C, modulo 2^32.
#4. Multiplication.
The register A receives the value in register B times
the value in register C, modulo 2^32.
#5. Division.
The register A receives the value in register B
divided by the value in register C, if any, where
each quantity is treated treated as an unsigned 32
bit number.
#6. Not-And.
Each bit in the register A receives the 1 bit if
either register B or register C has a 0 bit in that
position. Otherwise the bit in register A receives
the 0 bit.
Other Operators.
----------------
The following instructions ignore some or all of the A, B and C
registers.
#7. Halt.
The universal machine stops computation.
#8. Allocation.
A new array is created with a capacity of platters
commensurate to the value in the register C. This
new array is initialized entirely with platters
holding the value 0. A bit pattern not consisting of
exclusively the 0 bit, and that identifies no other
active allocated array, is placed in the B register.
#9. Abandonment.
The array identified by the register C is abandoned.
Future allocations may then reuse that identifier.
#10. Output.
The value in the register C is displayed on the console
immediately. Only values between and including 0 and 255
are allowed.
#11. Input.
The universal machine waits for input on the console.
When input arrives, the register C is loaded with the
input, which must be between and including 0 and 255.
If the end of input has been signaled, then the
register C is endowed with a uniform value pattern
where every place is pregnant with the 1 bit.
#12. Load Program.
The array identified by the B register is duplicated
and the duplicate shall replace the '0' array,
regardless of size. The execution finger is placed
to indicate the platter of this array that is
described by the offset given in C, where the value
0 denotes the first platter, 1 the second, et
cetera.
The '0' array shall be the most sublime choice for
loading, and shall be handled with the utmost
velocity.
Special Operators.
------------------
One special operator does not describe registers in the same way.
Instead the three bits immediately less significant than the four
instruction indicator bits describe a single register A. The
remainder twenty five bits indicate a value, which is loaded
forthwith into the register A.
A
|
vvv
.--------------------------------.
|VUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA9876543210|
`--------------------------------'
^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
| |
| value
|
operator number
Figure 3. Special Operators
#13. Orthography.
The value indicated is loaded into the register A
forthwith.
Cost-Cutting Measures.
----------------------
As per our meeting on 13 Febtober 19106, certain "impossible
behaviors" may be unimplemented in the furnished device. An
exhaustive list of these Exceptions is given below. Our contractual
agreement dictates that the machine may Fail under no other
circumstances.
If at the beginning of a cycle, the execution finger does not indicate
a platter that describes a valid instruction, then the machine may Fail.
If the program decides to index or amend an array that is not
active, because it has not been allocated or it has been abandoned,
or if the offset supplied for the access lies outside the array's
capacity, then the machine may Fail.
If the program decides to abandon the '0' array, or to abandon an array
that is not active, then the machine may Fail.
If the program sets out to divide by a value of 0, then the machine
may Fail.
If the program decides to load a program from an array that is not
active, then the machine may Fail.
If the program decides to Output a value that is larger than 255, the
machine may Fail.
If at the beginning of a machine cycle the execution finger aims
outside the capacity of the 0 array, the machine may Fail.