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Here are 11 reasons in favor of a web based
collaborative project to write an iSeries PowerPc compiler.
The compiler would translate MI code into PowerPc assembler
code. The resulting code would somehow be placed in a collection of spaces
that are somehow made to look like a pgm object. The code in this pgm looking
object would be run just like any other pgm on the system.
I dont know if this is technically possible and
my interest in the idea is simply to learn more about the system
internals.
Here are the reasons:
1. Excellent way to learn more about system
internals. Even if a PowerPc compiler is technically not possible, learning the
reasons why would increase the knowledge of the internals of the
system.
2. Chance to learn the power pc assembler
language. The power pc is used on other platforms and is a modern processor. So
learning it has portable value.
3. Makes MI more interesting. Mi is interesting, but IBM
has made it a dead end. This limits its usefulness and the level of interest of
its adherents. Adding a Power Pc compiler to the mix would juice things up a
bit.
4. Could implement the sls external module
concept. The iseries has this outstanding sls architecture that enables
code in external modules to be quickly resolved to and then jumped to as
efficiently as an indirect jump within a pgm. Its full capabilities are being
wasted by the powers that be. A power pc compiler could enable such a call
to an external module.
5. Other mi extension possiblities. User defined
os400 objects, a machine supported string data type, 8 byte integers, UniCode
data type, non static instruction pointers, parallel processing ...
6. More feasible than it might seem. Many mi
opcodes such as LOCKSL, MATPTRL, RSLVSP could be implemented as jumps to module
code that have been pre compiled to run the mi opcode with arguments passed to
the module. ( exception handling might be tough though )
7. Low resistance to collaboration. The non
commecial value of a power pc compiler removes an inpediment to collaboration.
That is, people would be willing to share knowledge and code because they have
nothing to lose.
8. The ability to collaborate. The web provides the ability
for dispersed people to collaborate. The connectivity of the web is an ideal
medium for a voluntary, collaborative project.
9. Web accessed shared system would be a good thing. The
project would work best if there was an as400 on the web that all participants
could telnet and ftp to. This would be good to have for sharing code of all
kinds.
10. Not a risc <g> to system security and integrity. The
compiler would not be for commercial use. It would not provide any ability to
challenge the system that an mi pgmr using sst already has. ( especially if the
pgm validation value cannot be cracked ). A charter could even state that
participants agree not to add any feature to the assembler that could be used in
such a way.
11. Only talk is needed to start the project.
The first phase of the project is discussion based. How could a pgm object be
constructed by an mi pgm? How could the code ( data ) of a shell pgm be copied
into the constructed object? How could the pgm object header be set to enable
the constructed pgm to be runable? Who has an as400 they could put on the web?
...
Steve Richter
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