Trends in Microprogramming: A Second Reading

Microprogramming is a rapidly emerging technology for the implementation of the control section of modem digital processing systems. An assessment was made of this approach to control unit design three years ago in a series of papers derived from the Third Annual Workshop on Microprogramming and published as a special issue of this TRANSACTIONS. This technology has matured in the ensuing three years, and an updated assessment has been prepared again as a special issue of this TRANSACTIONS based upon the papers presented at the Sixth Annual Workshop. The extent of realization of past predictions is reviewed and current trends are discussed. Finally, an attempt is made to assess future developments that may be expected to occur in the applications of microprogramming.