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MIX block devices

The MIX computer comes equipped with a set of block devices for input-output operations (see Input-output operators). mixvm implements these block devices as disk files, with the exception of block device no. 19 (typewriter terminal) which is redirected to standard output. When you request an output operation on any other (output) device, a file named according to the following table will be created, and the specified MIX words will be written to the file in binary form (for binary devices) or in ASCII (for char devices). Files corresponding to input block devices should be created and filled beforehand to be used by the MIX virtual machine (for input-output devices this creation can be accomplished by a MIXAL program writing to the device the required data, or, if you prefer, with your favourite editor). The device files are stored, by default, in the directory ~/.mdk; this location can be changed using the mixvm command devdir (see Configuration commands).

Device No. filename type
Tape 0-7 tape[0-7].dev bin i/o
Disks 8-15 disk[0-7].dev bin i/o
Card reader 16 cardrd.dev char in
Card writer 17 cardwr.dev char out
Line printer 18 printer.dev char out
Terminal 19 stdout char out
Paper tape 20 paper.dev char out