Availability of MIX and MIXAL in the Network
A summary of replies on where Knuth's MIX computer and its MIXAL assembler could be used on the ARPANET.
Walden, D.C., "Availability of MIX and MIXAL in the Network", RFC 494, DOI 10.17487/RFC0494, April 1973, <https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc494>.
@misc{rfc494,
series = {Request for Comments},
number = 494,
howpublished = {RFC 494},
publisher = {RFC Editor},
doi = {10.17487/RFC0494},
url = {https://www.rfc-editor.org/info/rfc494},
author = {D.C. Walden},
title = {{Availability of MIX and MIXAL in the Network}},
pagetotal = 1,
year = 1973,
month = apr,
} RFC text
Network Working Group D. Walden
Request for Comments: 494 BBN-NET
NIC: 15359 20 April 1973
References: RFCs 473, 485
Availability of MIX and MIXAL in the Network
In RFC 473 I requested information on the existence of assemblers and
interpreters for Knuth's hypothetical MIX computer. Following is a
summary of the responses to my earlier RFC.
First the rumors: (1) There is rumored to be a MIX interpreter
available on the University of Utah PDP-10, but not assembler; and
(2) There is rumored to be a MIX interpreter available on the SU-AI
PDP-10.
Now the facts:
A fairly well debugged and documented MIXAL assembler exists for the
UCSB 360/75. A partially debugged MIX interpreter also exists. See
RFC 485 for additional information.
Box MIX and MIXAL are available on the UCSD B6700; although,
according to Ken Bowles, they are not currently being handled as
fully supported products, and there may be some remaining bugs in the
systems. However, MIX and MIXAL are available for network users, and
Ken says they will be happy to receive notification of any errors
found in the MIX and MIXAL and will attempt to get corrections made
in due course. Contact Ken Bowles at UCSD for further information.
MIX and an assembler for MIX are available for network use on the
UCLA 360/91. These systems have had considerable use, and they are
documented. Contact Bob Braden at CCN for further information.
Finally: The Computer Science Center at Stanford University
apparently has available a standard package for exporting the MIX
systems to 360s and 370s.
[ This RFC was put into machine readable form for entry ]
[ into the online RFC archives by David Hennessey 7/99 ]
AI ELI5
On this page
§1Rumors
This RFC summarizes responses to the request in RFC 473 for information on assemblers and interpreters for Knuth's hypothetical MIX computer. There are two rumors: a MIX interpreter, but no assembler, on the University of Utah PDP-10, and a MIX interpreter on the SU-AI PDP-10.
Some people only heard that a computer might have the program, so the author labels those as rumors.
§2Confirmed Availability
A fairly well debugged and documented MIXAL assembler exists for the UCSB 360/75, with a partially debugged MIX interpreter; RFC 485 has details.
MIX and MIXAL are available on the UCSD B6700, though not handled as fully supported products and possibly with remaining bugs. Contact Ken Bowles at UCSD. MIX and an assembler are available on the UCLA 360/91, documented and with considerable use. Contact Bob Braden at CCN.
Three places said for sure they had it, and each has a person to ask.
§3Stanford Package
Finally, the Computer Science Center at Stanford University apparently has a standard package for exporting the MIX systems to 360s and 370s.
One more place may have a kit for copying it onto other computers.