RFC 473 UNKNOWN PROGRAMMING · ARPANET

MIX and MIXAL?

A question asking whether ARPANET hosts offered tools for Knuth's MIX computer.

RFC EDITOR

Walden, D.C., "MIX and MIXAL?", RFC 473, DOI 10.17487/RFC0473, February 1973, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc473>.

BIBTEX

@misc{rfc473,
  series = {Request for Comments},
  number = 473,
  howpublished = {RFC 473},
  publisher = {RFC Editor},
  doi = {10.17487/RFC0473},
  url = {https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc473},
  author = {D.C. Walden},
  title = {{MIX and MIXAL?}},
  pagetotal = 1,
  year = 1973,
  month = feb,
}

PUBLISHED: February 1973
AUTHORS: D.C. Walden
STREAM: Legacy
DOI: 10.17487/RFC0473

RFC text

Original text · RFC Editor View on rfc-editor.org ↗

Network Working Group                                          D. Walden
Request for Comments: 473                                        BBN-NET
NIC: 14811                                              28 February 1973


                             MIX and MIXAL?

   Is there an interpreter for Knuth's hypothetical computer, MIX,
   together with an assemble for the MIX assembly language, MIXAL,
   available on any ARPA Network Host? If not, will not some Network
   Host make them available (cheaply)?--it would be considerable service
   to all of us who are students of the "Art of Computer Programming."


          [This RFC was put into machine readable form for entry]
     [into the online RFC archives by Helene Morin, Via Genie 12/1999]

ISO Plain Language

On this page

PROBLEMStudents of The Art of Computer Programming wanted to run programs for Knuth's hypothetical MIX computer and its assembly language.

MECHANISMD. Walden asks whether any Network host has a MIX interpreter and a MIXAL assembler, and asks whether a host would make them available if not.

WHAT IT ASKSRFC 473 is a request for information and records no answer in its own text.

§1The Question About MIX

D. Walden asks whether an interpreter for MIX, Knuth's hypothetical computer, is available on any ARPA Network host. He asks about an assembler for MIXAL, the assembly language for MIX, as well.

MIX is a hypothetical computer described by Knuth. The author asks whether network hosts have software that can run its programs.

§2The Intended Users

The RFC says that the requested tools would serve students of The Art of Computer Programming. If no host already offered them, the author asked whether a Network host would make them available cheaply.

The request is aimed at people studying Knuth's book. They want a way to try the MIX examples using a network host.

§3A Request, Not a Specification

The note defines no protocol, software interface, or operating procedure. It asks the Network community whether the tools exist and whether a host might offer them.

This RFC asks the community for a resource. It does not itself provide the MIX tools or say who answered.