author : inmos

The occam 2 Reference Manual is designed as a single reference, and definition of the language occam. The manual describes each aspect of the language, starting with the most primitive components of an occam program, and moving on to cover the whole language in detail. The manual addresses the computer scientist, software engineer, programmer, electronics engineer and system designer.

Programming in occam is easy and natural. occam is a high level language, designed to express concurrent algorithms and their implementation on a network of processing components. occam is an ideal introduction to a number of key methodologies in modern computer science. occam programs can provide a degree of security unknown in conventional programming languages such as C, FORTRAN or Pascal.

This manual was completed during 1986 and 1987 as part of the final development of occam 2 at the INMOS Microcomputer Centre, Bristol, UK. The development of the INMOS transputer, a device which places a microcomputer on a single chip, has been closely related to occam, its design and implementation. The transputer reflects the occam architectural model, and may be considered an occam machine.