Editing The Art of Computer Programming (section)

==Assembly language in the book==
All examples in the books use a hypothetical language called "[[MIX (abstract machine)|MIX]] assembly language" (MIXAL), which runs on "a mythical computer called MIX". Currently,{{when|date=October 2022}} the MIX computer is being replaced by the [[MMIX]] computer, which is a [[RISC]] version. The conversion from MIX to MMIX was a large ongoing project for which Knuth solicited volunteers for help. Software such as [[GNU MDK]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=GNU MDK - GNU Project - Free Software Foundation |url=https://www.gnu.org/software/mdk/mdk.html |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=www.gnu.org |archive-date=2022-10-23  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023050959/https://www.gnu.org/software/mdk/mdk.html |url-status=live }}</ref> exists to provide [[Emulator|emulation]] of the MIX architecture. Knuth considers the use of [[assembly language]] necessary for the speed and memory usage of algorithms to be judged.

MIX was much like any computer then in existence, but nicer. The name ‘MIX’ is 1009 in Roman numerals and this is given by a formula involving series numbers of several computers of the time: (360 + 650 + 709 + U3 + SS80 + 1107 + 1604 + G2- + B220 + S2000 + 920 + 601 + H800 + PDP-4 + 11)/16 = 1009 or MIX. The name MMIX is 2009 in Roman numerals and Knuth claims MMIX is even nicer than MIX.