SINTRAN III Development - Quick Start Examples¶

Purpose: Immediate validation examples for each supported language
Date: October 17, 2025
Status: Complete

Overview¶

This document provides minimal "Hello World" examples for each programming language supported on SINTRAN III. These examples are designed for immediate testing and validation.

Languages covered: - NPL (NORD Programming Language) - MAC (Assembler) - C (CC-100/CC-500) - PLANC - FORTRAN - PASCAL - COBOL - BASIC

1. NPL - NORD Programming Language¶

1.1 Hello World (NPL)¶

File: HELLO-NPL:NPL

% Simple Hello World in NPL

SUBR HELLO, START

INTEGER ARRAY MSG:='HELLO FROM NPL!', 15, 12

START:
    A:=43                    % WRTSW monitor call
    T:="MSG"
    *MONITOR 43
    A:=3                     % EXIT monitor call
    *MONITOR 3

RBUS

1.2 Build and Run¶

@NPL HELLO-NPL:NPL           # Compile to MAC
@MAC HELLO-NPL:MAC           # Assemble to BRF
@NRL                         # Start linker
*PROG-FILE "HELLO-NPL"
*LOAD HELLO-NPL
*EXIT
@HELLO-NPL                   # Run program

Expected output:

HELLO FROM NPL!

2. MAC - Assembler¶

2.1 Hello World (MAC)¶

File: HELLO-MAC:MAC

        % Simple Hello World in MAC Assembler

START,  LDA     =43          % WRTSW monitor call
        LDT     I (MSG)      % Message address
        MONITOR 43           % Write string
        LDA     =3           % EXIT monitor call
        MONITOR 3            % Exit program

MSG,    'HELLO FROM MAC!'
        15, 12               % CR, LF

        )ENTR START

2.2 Build and Run¶

@MAC HELLO-MAC:MAC           # Assemble to BRF
@NRL                         # Start linker
*PROG-FILE "HELLO-MAC"
*LOAD HELLO-MAC
*EXIT
@HELLO-MAC                   # Run program

Expected output:

HELLO FROM MAC!

3. C - CC-100/CC-500¶

3.1 Hello World (C)¶

File: HELLO-C:C

/* Simple Hello World in C */

#include <stdio.h>

main()
{
    printf("HELLO FROM C!\n");
    return 0;
}

3.2 Build and Run¶

@CC-100 HELLO-C:C            # Compile C to BRF
@NRL                         # Start linker
*IMAGE 100                   # ND-100 image
*PROG-FILE "HELLO-C"
*LOAD CC-2HEADER             # C runtime header
*LOAD HELLO-C                # Your program
*LOAD CC-2BANK               # C runtime library
*LOAD CC-2TRAILER            # C runtime trailer
*EXIT
@HELLO-C                     # Run program

Expected output:

HELLO FROM C!

4. PLANC¶

4.1 Hello World (PLANC)¶

File: HELLO:PLNC (must have CRLF line endings and even parity)

Source files use type :PLNC or :SYMB. The compiler looks for :SYMB first, then :PLNC.

MODULE hello
    INTEGER ARRAY : stack(0:100)
    BYTES : msg := 'HELLO FROM PLANC!'

    PROGRAM : main
        INISTACK stack
        OUTPUT (1,'AL17',msg)
        OUTPUT (1,'AL1','$')
    ENDROUTINE
ENDMODULE

PLANC syntax notes: - MODULE/ENDMODULE structure -- NOT Pascal's PROGRAM/BEGIN/END - Entry point: PROGRAM : name inside the module - INISTACK must be called first to initialize the runtime stack - OUTPUT(device, format, variable) writes to terminal (device 1) - 'AL17' = Alphanumeric, Left-justified, 17 characters - '$' outputs a CR+LF (newline) - BYTES : name := 'string' declares byte array with implicit length from initializer

4.2 Build and Run¶

Method 1: Interactive build (verified on ND-100, PLANC Version E)

@PLANC
PROG-FILE "HELLO"
COMPILE HELLO:PLNC,"HELLO:LIST","HELLO"
EXIT
@HELLO

The COMPILE command takes three parameters: 1. HELLO:PLNC -- source file (exists, no quotes needed) 2. "HELLO:LIST" -- listing output (created, needs quotes) 3. "HELLO" -- object file (created, needs quotes, produces :BRF)

PROG-FILE "HELLO" tells the compiler to also create HELLO:PROG directly. On EXIT, the PLANC runtime is linked automatically.

This produces three files: - HELLO:PROG -- executable (run with @HELLO) - HELLO:BRF -- binary relocatable file - HELLO:LIST -- compiler listing with line numbers

Method 2: Automated build (MODE file)

File: DO-BUILD:MODE

@DELETE-FILE HELLO:PROG
@DELETE-FILE HELLO:LIST
@DELETE-FILE HELLO:BRF
@PLANC
PROG-FILE "HELLO"
COMPILE HELLO:PLNC,"HELLO:LIST","HELLO"
EXIT
@HELLO

Run with: @MODE DO-BUILD:MODE,,

Method 3: Separate compile and link

@PLANC
COMPILE HELLO:PLNC,"HELLO:LIST","HELLO"
EXIT
@NRL
PROG-FILE "HELLO"
LOAD HELLO
LOAD PLANC-1BANK
EXIT
@HELLO

Expected output:

HELLO FROM PLANC!

5. FORTRAN¶

5.1 Hello World (FORTRAN)¶

File: HELLO:SYMB (must have CRLF line endings and even parity)

Source files use :SYMB extension (default) or :FORT.

      PROGRAM HELLO
      WRITE(1, 10)
   10 FORMAT(1X, 'HELLO FROM FORTRAN!')
      END

FORTRAN syntax notes: - Fixed-form: column 1 = C for comment, columns 1-5 = label, column 6 = continuation, 7-72 = code - Unit 1 = user's terminal on ND-100 (NOT unit 6) - 1X = one blank for carriage control (advance one line) - END terminates the program unit

5.2 Build and Run¶

Verified on ND-100, compiler 203053F02.

@FORT
SEP OFF
COMP HELLO,,"HELLO"
EXIT
@BRF-LINKER
PROG-FILE "HELLO"
LOAD HELLO
LOAD FORT-1B
EXIT
@HELLO

@FORT -- ANSI 77 FORTRAN compiler (203053F02)
SEP OFF -- 1-bank mode (SEPARATE-DATA OFF)
COMP source,,"object" -- source unquoted (exists), object quoted (created)
@BRF-LINKER -- the ND BRF linker (not NRL)
LOAD FORT-1B -- FORTRAN 1-bank runtime (must be loaded last)

Automated build (MODE file):

File: DO-BUILD:MODE

@DELETE-FILE HELLO:PROG
@DELETE-FILE HELLO:BRF
@FORT
SEP OFF
COMP HELLO,,"HELLO"
EXIT
@BRF-LINKER
PROG-FILE "HELLO"
LOAD HELLO
LOAD FORT-1B
EXIT
@HELLO

Run with: @MODE DO-BUILD:MODE,,

Expected output:

 HELLO FROM FORTRAN!

6. PASCAL¶

6.1 Hello World (PASCAL)¶

File: HELLO-PAS:PAS

PROGRAM HELLO(OUTPUT);

BEGIN
    WRITELN('HELLO FROM PASCAL!')
END.

6.2 Build and Run¶

@PASCAL                      # Start Pascal compiler
COMPILE HELLO-PAS:PAS
EXIT
@NRL                         # Start linker
*PROG-FILE "HELLO-PAS"
*LOAD HELLO-PAS
*LOAD PASCALLIB              # Pascal runtime library
*EXIT
@HELLO-PAS                   # Run program

Expected output:

HELLO FROM PASCAL!

7. COBOL¶

7.1 Hello World (COBOL)¶

File: HELLO-COB:COB

       IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
       PROGRAM-ID. HELLO.

       PROCEDURE DIVISION.
       MAIN-PARAGRAPH.
           DISPLAY "HELLO FROM COBOL!".
           STOP RUN.

7.2 Build and Run¶

@COBOL                       # Start COBOL compiler
HELLO-COB:COB
EXIT
@NRL                         # Start linker
*PROG-FILE "HELLO-COB"
*LOAD HELLO-COB
*LOAD COBOLLIB               # COBOL runtime library
*EXIT
@HELLO-COB                   # Run program

Expected output:

HELLO FROM COBOL!

8. BASIC¶

8.1 Hello World (BASIC)¶

File: HELLO-BAS:BAS

10 PRINT "HELLO FROM BASIC!"
20 END

8.2 Build and Run¶

@BASIC                       # Start BASIC
RUN HELLO-BAS:BAS
EXIT

Expected output:

HELLO FROM BASIC!

Note: BASIC is typically interpreted, not compiled.

Quick Reference Table¶

Language	Source Ext	Compiler	Output	Linker Needed	Runtime Lib
NPL	`:NPL`	`@NPL`	`:MAC` → `:BRF`	Yes	No
MAC	`:MAC`	`@MAC`	`:BRF`	Yes	No
C	`:C`	`@CC-100`	`:BRF`	Yes	Yes (CC-2BANK)
PLANC	`:SYMB` or `:PLNC`	`@PLANC-100`	`:BRF`	Yes (or use `$PROG-FILE`)	Yes (PLANC-1BANK or PLANC-2BANK)
FORTRAN	`:SYMB` or `:FORT`	`@FORT`	`:BRF`	Yes (BRF-LINKER)	Yes (FORT-1B or FORT-2B)
PASCAL	`:PAS`	`@PASCAL`	`:BRF`	Yes	Yes (PASCALLIB)
COBOL	`:COB`	`@COBOL`	`:BRF`	Yes	Yes (COBOLLIB)
BASIC	`:BAS`	`@BASIC`	Interpreted	No	Built-in

Common Build Patterns¶

Pattern 1: Simple Single-File (NPL, MAC)¶

# Compile
@<COMPILER> SOURCE:EXT

# Assemble (if NPL)
@MAC SOURCE:MAC

# Link
@NRL
*PROG-FILE "PROGRAM"
*LOAD SOURCE
*EXIT

# Run
@PROGRAM

Pattern 2: With Runtime Library (C, FORTRAN, PASCAL, COBOL)¶

# Compile
@<COMPILER> SOURCE:EXT

# Link with runtime
@NRL
*IMAGE 100
*PROG-FILE "PROGRAM"
*LOAD <RUNTIME-HEADER>    # If needed
*LOAD SOURCE
*LOAD <RUNTIME-LIB>
*LOAD <RUNTIME-TRAILER>   # If needed
*EXIT

# Run
@PROGRAM

Pattern 3: Using MODE Files (Automation)¶

File: BUILD:MODE

@NPL SOURCE:NPL
@MAC SOURCE:MAC
@NRL
PROG-FILE "PROGRAM"
LOAD SOURCE
EXIT

Run:

@MODE BUILD:MODE

Troubleshooting¶

Common Errors¶

Error	Cause	Solution
FILE NOT FOUND	Source file missing	Check filename and extension
SYNTAX ERROR	Code syntax wrong	Check language syntax
UNDEFINED SYMBOL	External reference	Add library or define symbol
OUT OF MEMORY	Program too large	Reduce size or use segments
RUNTIME ERROR	Program logic error	Use debugger to trace

Verification Steps¶

Compile successful? - No errors reported
Link successful? - PROG file created
File exists? - Check with @LI (list files)
Executable? - Check with @TY PROGRAM:PROG (type file)
Runs? - Execute with @PROGRAM

Next Steps¶

After validating these examples:

NPL: See NPL-DEVELOPER-GUIDE.md for complete language guide
MAC: See MAC-DEVELOPER-GUIDE.md for assembler details
C: See C-DEVELOPER-GUIDE.md for C compiler guide
PLANC: See PLANC-DEVELOPER-GUIDE.md for PLANC guide
Linking: See LINKING-GUIDE.md for advanced linking
Automation: See SCRIPT-GUIDE.md for MODE files

File Locations¶

Quick Start Examples: Current directory
Kernel Documentation: SINTRAN\OS\
Developer Guides: Will be created in Phase 2

Last Updated: October 17, 2025
Version: 1.0
Status: Complete