Methods of and apparatus for compiling high-level language statements into low-level language instruction sets

Claim 2

Apparatus for compiling high-level language statements into low-level language instructions for a computer which comprises a high-level language input means (2), a memory (4) and a central processing unit (11), the apparatus being characterised by: means for detecting completion of the input of each line of a high-level language source program; means for storing said input lines of source program in a first predetermined area (4f) of the memory (4); means (4a) for compiling each of said input lines of source program, line by line, upon completion of the inputting of each line, to generate low-level language instructions; and means for storing the compiled low-level language instructions in a second predetermined area (4d) of the memory (4).

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a display (3), and means for managing variables used in said source program, said variable managing means including a third predetermined area (4e) of the memory (4) for storing said variables, and means responsive to a command entered through the high-level language input means (2) for accessing said stored variables and causing the display (3) to display at least the line numbers of the source program in which the accessed variables are used.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for outputting variables used in said source program, said variable outputting means storing said variables in a third predetermined area (4e) of the memory (4) and outputting said variables and information concerning said variables to an external memory (5) in response to input of a command through the high-level language input means (2).

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising means for accessing said external memory (5) for reading out variables and information concerning said variables stored therein for use in a source program upon inputting of a corresponding .command through the high-level language input means (2).

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for selectively outputting either the high-level language source program or the low-level language program to an external memory (5) in response to input of one of two corresponding commands through the high-level language input means (2).

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for outputting to the external memory (5) is capable of outputting the low-level language instructions even during compilation, and further, the low-level language instructions are arranged to link with a runtime routine so as to form an object program capable of execution.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for selectively outputting either the high-level language source program or the low-level language program can also selectively output the low-level language program in the form of an object program linked with a runtime routine and in the form of compiled low-level language instructions per se.

Claim 9

Apparatus for compiling high-level language statements into low-level language instructions for a computer which comprises a keyboard (2) for inputting high-level language source program statements comprising fundamental instruction components (6) and additional instruction components (7), memory means (4, 5), including an external memory (5) for storing modules (9, 10) of additional instructions, and a central processing unit (CPU), the apparatus being characterised by: means for detecting completion of the inputting of each line of the high-level language source program through the keyboard (2), means for selecting and transferring additional instruction components from the additional instruction modules (9, 10), stored in the external memory (5), to farm high-level language statements to be used in conjunction with the fundamental instruction components (6); means for storing the input lines of the source program in a first predetermined area (4f) of the memory means (4, 5); means (4a) for compiling each of the lines of the source program upon completion of inputting of each line to generate low-level language instructions; and means for storing the compiled low-level language instructions in a second predetermined area (4d) of the memory means (4, 5).

Claim 10

Apparatus for compiling high-level language statements into low-level language instructions for a computer which comprises a keyboard (2) for inputting high-level language source program statements comprising fundamental instruction components (6) and additional instruction components (7), memory means (4, 5), including an external memory (5) for storing modules (9, 10) of additional instructions, and a central processing unit (CPU), the apparatus being characterised by: means for detecting completion of the inputting of each line of the high-level language source program through the keyboard (2), means for selecting and transferring additional instruction components from the additional instruction modules (9, 10), stored in the external memory (5), to farm high-level language statements to be used in conjunction with the fundamental instruction components (6); means for storing the input lines of the source program in a first predetermined area (4f) of the memory means (4, 5); means (4a) for compiling each of the lines of the source program upon completion of inputting of each line to generate low-level language instructions; and means for storing the compiled low-level language instructions in a second predetermined area (4d) of the memory means (4, 5).

Claim 13

A method according to claim 9 comprising the further steps of storing the program variables as a group and, in response to an entered command, accessing the stored variables and displaying at least the line numbers of the source program in which the accessed variables are used.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 9 further comprising the steps of storing the program variables and outputting them, and information concerning them, to an external memory (5) in response to a command.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 11 further comprising the steps of accessing the external memory (5) in response to a command and reading out the variables and information concerning them for use in the source program.

Claim 16

13, A method according to claim 9 further comprising the steps of selectively outputting either the high-level language source program or the low-level language program to an external memory (5) in response to one of two corresponding commands.

Claim 17

A method according to claim 13 wherein during the outputting step the low-level language instructions are outputted even during compilation, and further, the low-level language instructions are outputted in a form arranged to link with a runtime routine so as to form an object program capable of being executed.

Claim 18

A method according to claim 14 wherein during the outputting step the low-level language program is selectively outputted in the form of either an object program linked with a runtime routine or in the form of compiled low-level language instructions per se.