A proposed standard for extending high-level languages for microprocessors - IEEE Task P755

Over the years language implementers have found it desirable to provide additional statements allowing users to get to some of the features of the hardware and operating system. Such new features partially eliminate the need for dropping into assembly language. With the wide use of microprocessors and microcomputers, and with the growing number of language implementations being made on them, it is time to ask, what is the minimal, common set of language extensions that will address the greatest number of needs of microprocessor users? The proposed standard published here tries to address this question with the following thoughts in mind: (1) suitability for common languages (we chose Basic, Fortran, and Pascal for demonstration purposes); (2) minimum number of syntax changes needed to implement the features. The text of the proposed standard is included.