Implementation of a high level language machine

Abstract

Computing machines which directly execute the statements of a high level language have been proposed in the past. This report describes the actual implementation of such a machine: it is a computer whose “machine language” is APL. The machine is fully operational and correctly executes almost all of the APL operations on scalars, vectors, and arrays. The machine automatically allocates memory, executes statements, calls functions, converts numbers from one type to another, checks subscripts, and automatically detects many types of programmer errors.