Micro Spitbol

MACRO SPITBOL (1) is a compiler/ interpreter for a variant of SNOBOL4 (3), SPITBOL (4), which has been implemented on a variety of large computers. MICRO SPITBOL is an adaptation of the system for use on micro and minicomputers which compiles a language identical to MACRO SPITBOL with the exclusion of real arithmetic. The goal was to preserve the structure and machine independence of the system while allowing for the added constraints imposed by small computers, particularly the severe limitations on memory and address size. We also intended that the process for implementing MICRO SPITBOL on a minicomputer be largely automated. In this way we preserve the integrity of the well-tested MACRO SPITBOL source code while allowing for easy updating to new versions.