russ@snll-arpagw.UUCP (Russ Wertenberg) (09/22/89)
I am just getting started with an investigation of several different
types of computer architectures and it was suggested that the Harris
RTX and the Hitachi AI32's would be an interesting place to start.
If I was informed correctly, the Harris RTX is a two level computer
which interprets FORTH directly to the digital logic level. The
Hitachi AI32 is a similar computer which uses an intermediary step
between the high level language (One of 3 or 4 languages such as
Lisp, Prolog, Smalltalk?) and the digital logic level. I think the
Hitachi has ROM's which can be switched depending which language is
being used.
I would appreciate any leads or information which would help me under-
stand the uniqueness of these two computers. Are either of these
architectures similar to other existing computers in use?
Lastly, are there any references which discuss the differences and
advantages of using RISC or CISC.
thank you in advance for your help,
Russ Wertenbergkoopman@a.gp.cs.cmu.edu (Philip Koopman) (09/24/89)
In article <135@snll-arpagw.UUCP>, russ@snll-arpagw.UUCP (Russ Wertenberg) writes: > I am just getting started with an investigation of several different > types of computer architectures and it was suggested that the Harris > RTX and the Hitachi AI32's would be an interesting place to start. > If I was informed correctly, the Harris RTX is a two level computer > which interprets FORTH directly to the digital logic level. The > Hitachi AI32 is a similar computer which uses an intermediary step > between the high level language (One of 3 or 4 languages such as > Lisp, Prolog, Smalltalk?) and the digital logic level. I think the > Hitachi has ROM's which can be switched depending which language is > being used. > ... > Russ Wertenberg The RTX family of processors is derived from the abstract machine used by the Forth language. I.E. a data stack, a return address stack, and good support for subroutine calls. You could say that Forth is the assembly language of the RTX. I'm not familiar with the AI32. However, it sounds like one of a number of "Forth computers" that are just regular old processors that have a Forth virtual machine emulator in on-chip ROM. They may look like a Forth chip, but their performance can not approach a true hardware-implemented Forth engine such as the RTX. To get more RTX information, contact Harris Semiconductor. US sales: (407) 724-7418. They can send you a thick data sheet that incorporates an instruction set summary and other useful stuff. Phil Koopman koopman@greyhound.ece.cmu.edu Arpanet 2525A Wexford Run Rd. Wexford, PA 15090 Senior Scientist at Harris Semiconductor. I don't speak for them, and they don't speak for me.