Description #
IBM 360 Assembly language is the low-level programming language for the IBM System/360 mainframe series. It is used for high-reliability enterprise computing, operating systems, and legacy business applications.
History #
Introduced in 1964, the IBM System/360 was revolutionary in offering a compatible family of mainframe computers. Its assembly language provided a standardized interface to hardware for system and application software.
Hello World Code #
(IBM 360 uses macros and system services; below is a simple example using system call to print)
PRINT NOGEN
HELLO START 0
USING *,15
LA 1,MSG
PUT 1
BR 14
MSG DC C'Hello, World!'
END HELLO
How to Run #
Option 1: Online
Emulators like Hercules allow running IBM 360 assembly.
Option 2: Local
- Use mainframe emulators (Hercules)
- IBM mainframe environments for compiling and running code
Key Concepts #
- Macro assembly language with symbolic instructions
- Used on large-scale mainframe systems
- Supports complex data and control structures
- Interfaces with operating systems like OS/360, z/OS
- Uses registers R0–R15 with specialized functions
- Emphasizes reliability and performance in enterprise
- Complex addressing modes and I/O operations
- Programming requires specialized knowledge
- Legacy systems still in use worldwide
- Rich instruction set for system programming
Try It Online #
Fun Facts #
- IBM 360 was the first mainframe family with software compatibility.
- Its architecture influenced many modern mainframe systems.
- Assembly was used extensively for OS development and batch processing.
- The System/360 project was one of IBM’s largest investments ever.
- Many banks and governments still rely on descendants of 360 assembly code.
