Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!munnari.oz.au!mtiame!marvin!david
From: david@marvin.jpl.oz (David Magnay)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.nsc.32k
Subject: Re: 32k Programmer's Manual Errata
Message-ID: <425@marvin.jpl.oz>
Date: 23 Feb 90 09:56:02 GMT
Reply-To: david@marvin.jpl.oz (David Magnay)
Organization: Johns Perry Lifts, Melbourne
Lines: 48

Errata:
	Each instruction description lists the valid forms at the top of the
	page. A number are missing one or more forms.

		eg	p6-141, missing MOVXBW

	Try writing a lexical description file from the book !. HARD, as our
	friend has explained.

	Can we get execution times for different CPU's in here. NSC seem to
	treat these like the state secrets. Motorola have published theirs for
	years on Day 1, with helpful forms giving good estimates for average,
	min and max times to execute. You need as BSc and a 32 bit calculator
	to work them for the 32k. Else, the source for an estimator program
	would be useful. ( file.s -> file.t )

Need improving:
	Descriptions of descriptors in intrpt vector table.
	A version of the diagram Fig 4-5, p4-12 for vectored intrpts.

	The desciptions of instruction operations are not always clear, or
	cover all instruction forms in an unambiguous way. Have wasted much
	time trying to clarify meanings. Suggest you use some pseudo-code
	grammatical descriptions, as is usual in books like this.

		eg	(ea) -> rn
			(ar++)

			or
		
		(SP) -> PC; SP += 4;

	Better description of the Syntax line explanation. ( line 2 & 3 in
	following eg).

	eg	Syntax		CMPMi	block1, block2, length
					gen	gen	disp
					addr	addr
	

For a good example to follow, see 

	MC68030,	Enhanced 32 bit Microprocessor
			Users manual, 2nd edition
			Prentice Hall, 1989
			ISBN	0-13-566951-0

See if we can do better than that.