Macro Processor for Efficient Program Preparation.

A study is presented of the use of macro processors for the production of reliable programs at a reasonable cost. As a vehicle for study, a programming system was developed, based on an extension of the MLI macro processor. The system, called EPS Extensible Programming System, was designed to support all significant activities in the process of program production and maintenance. EPS facilitates debugging, maintenance, and both modular and structured programming. In order to avoid the disadvantages of assembly language programming, EPS was designed to facilitate the implementation of special purpose high level languages. The system facilitates implementations of these languages such that highly efficient object code can be produced. EPS saves storage and implementation costs by consolidating facilities that are common in a number of the implemented languages. The relative ease with which special purpose languages may be realized in EPS was verified by the implementation of a subset of COURSEWRITER and of an ALGOL 60 like language. Author