Concise Command Language

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Concise Command Language (CCL)
Developer(s)Digital Equipment Corporation
Operating systemOS/8, TOPS-10, RSTS/E
PlatformPDP-6, PDP-8, PDP-10, PDP-11
SuccessorDIGITAL Command Language (DCL)
Available inEnglish
TypeCommand shell

Concise Command Language (CCL) was the term used by Digital Equipment Corporation for the Command-line interpreter / User interface supplied on several of their computing systems; its successor was named DIGITAL Command Language (DCL).

CCL provides the user with an extensive set of terminal commands.[1]

The first system to include CCL was DEC's PDP-10.[2]

History[edit]

The PDP-6 monitor came with a simple set of commands. To compile and run a FORTRAN program, one would

  • .R F4 --- invoke the FORTRAN compiler
  • *DTA1:PROG3=DTA2:PROG3,SUB3A,SUB3B --- specify binary output and source input
  • .R LOADER 30 --- invoke the loader, allocate 30K of memory
  • *DTA1:PROG3 --- specify binary object to load
  • *SYS:/S --- let the loader find the appropriate subroutine libraries
  • .SAVE DTA1:PROG3 --- write the executable to DTA1
(The DOT is a monitor prompt and the Star/Asterisk is an application prompt)

The PDP-10 had CCL. Key to its improvements over its predecessor were:[2]

  • multi-step commands: .EX PROG3,SUB3A,SUB3B
  • would check to see if any of the 3 needed to be recompiled (and did so if necessary)
  • run the object program loader (including needed subroutine libraries)
  • start running the program
  • advanced command file: .EX @RUNPROG3.CMD
  • would run the command(s) in the .CMD file

Commands[edit]

The following table contains a list of CCL commands.[1]

List of CCL commands
CCL command
(full form)
CCL command
(short form)
Description
BACKSPACE BAC Runs CAMP. A magnetic tape or cassette is spaced backward a specified number of files or records.
BOOT BO
CCL CCL Disables the CCL program on the OS/8 Keyboard Monitor residing on the system device.
COMPARE COMP Runs SRCCOM. Compares/shows differences between two source files. Although line by line, permits "catch up."
COMPILE COM Produces binary files and/or compilation listings for specified program files.
COPY COP Transfers files from one I/O device to another.
CORE COR
CREATE CREA Runs EDIT and opens a new file for creation.
CREF CREF
DATE DA
DEASSIGN DEA
DELETE DEL Deletes one or more files from disk or DECtape.
DIRECT DIR
EDIT ED Runs EDIT. Opens an already existing file for editing.
EOF EOF
EXECUTE EXE
HELP HE Prints information on specified OS/8 programs.
LIST LI
LOAD LO
MAKE MAK Runs TECO. Opens the specified file for output.
MAP MAP Runs BITMAP.
MUNG MUNG Runs a TECO Macro; command line parameters give added adaptability.
PAL PAL Runs PAL8. Assembles the source file specified as the argument.
PRINT PRI Runs a program named LPTSPL.
PUNCH PU Runs PIP. Punches the file specified on paper tape.
RENAME REN Renames one or more files on disk or DECtape.
RES RES Runs RESORC.
REWIND REW
SKIP SKIP
SQUISH SQ Runs PIP's "squeeze" / defrag tool[citation needed]
SUBMIT SU Runs the BATCH program.
TECO TE (Text Editor and COrrector, a sophisticated text editor with MACRO capabilities).
TYPE TY
UA UA
UB UB
UC UC
UNLOAD UNL
VERSION VER Prints the version numbers of the OS/8 Keyboard Monitor and CCL.
ZERO ZERO

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Concise Command Language" (CCL)."OS/8 Handbook" (PDF). April 1974. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b Peter Clark (July 1982). "DEC TIMESHARING (1965)". The DEC Professional. p. 34.