AbstractA project is described in which the software tools of Kernighan and Plauger1 are implemented on a Burroughs B1700 computer under a non‐standard operating system. A command language interpreter similar to that of the UNIX operating system has also been implemented to provide an environment in which the tools may be used. The project was completed by five first‐year postgraduate students in the remarkably short time of approximately 12 man‐weeks. A translation program for the tools is described, together with some of the associated software required to support them.