B is a computer language originally designed for recursive, primarily non-numeric applications. B allows you to implement many programs easily and efficiently which otherwise would require a considerable amount of GMAP code. There are a number of library routines written for B, designed to make the programmer's job easier. For an explanation of the command to compile B programs, see "expl b command".
B is a "typeless" language. This means that you can perform any operation you like on the 36-bit word used as the basic unit of computation. Besides the usual arithmetic operations, B lets you perform lower level shifting as well as bitwise and complement operations. Floating point operators are available also, but the code generated for them is not particularly efficient.
Most of the programs in the system command library are written in B, including the B compiler itself.
The B run-time package will read almost any type of standard system format file, including BCD, object decks, and compressed source decks. The user may also load routines which write in these formats as well.
The B compiler is the work of R.Braga. The I/O package was written by T.J.Thompson. B was designed and originally implemented by D.M.Ritchie and K.L.Thompson of Bell Labs.
Copyright © 1996, Thinkage Ltd.