HP3000/HP 3000 FAQ

Last Updated: Thursday, February 01, 2007 02:38 PM

HP3000 Intrinsics and system calls

6.4. Intrinsics and system calls

6.4.1. Intrinsics

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The MPE lab uses "intrinsics" to mean a specific set of documented routines in the operating system callable by end-users (programmers). These are documented in the MPE/iX Intrinsics Reference Manual (p/n 32650-90028).

Often, other user-callable procedures are referred to as "intrinsics", even if they are not found in the above manual.

To many users, a procedure is an "intrinsic" if it has a header defined in either SPLINTR.PUB.SYS (CM intrinsics) or SYSINTR.PUB.SYS (NM intrinsics). There are about 216 intrinsics documented in the Intrinsics Reference Manual, but there are 2277 procedure headers in SYSINTR.PUB.SYS, and 924 procedure headers in SPLINTR.PUB.SYS.

The various C library routines are not considered intrinsics, and are generally not included in SYSINTR.PUB.SYS.

The majority of the intrinsics are accessible from either NM or CM. Some, including most beginning with "HP" are NM only.

(plug) The CSEQ Nugget from SRN (qv) provides on-line access to information about intrinsics, including: parameter names, calling sequence, notes, and parameter locations (for debugging).

6.4.2. AIFs

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Privileged routines, more powerful than most intrinsics. Require purchase (by developer, no need for end-user costs, no run-time royalties).