2 ms·
> In fact call was really jump-and-link(?) Yes, technically "BALR" for Branch and Link Register. (I knew a guy who had been a 360 assembly language programmer
by wglb 3y ago
> In fact call was really jump-and-link(?)
Yes, technically "BALR" for Branch and Link Register. (I knew a guy who had been a 360 assembly language programmer who called his consulting firm BALR consulting, referring to that instruction.)
Interestingly, Gene Amdahl was asked why the 360 architecture didn't have a stack. "Too expensive" he said. I found this amusing at the time you could buy an 8085 for $5 retail quantity one. Perhaps he meant culturally expensive?
- JoeAltmaier 3y agoThe ol 360 used core memory if I recall. A stack would likely have meant, another whole cabinet on your computer room floor!