Re: VT100 colors

I want to say that it’s white. Though I can’t get to mine right now. Zane Sent from my iPod > On Jun 20, 2021, at 10:50 PM, Lars Brinkhoff via cctalk > wrote: > > Hello, > > Does anyone know what colors a VT100 is? Most photos online has it > looking yellowish, but I expect that's from a

Re: Early Programming Books

On Sun, 2021-06-20 at 23:06 -0700, Chuck Guzis via cctalk wrote: > Some may find this paper interesting on the FORTRAN I compiler: > https://www.cs.fsu.edu/~lacher/courses/COT4401/notes/cise_v2_i1/fortran.pdf > > I will add that the diagnostic error messages for FORTRAN I were > prettygood for the

Re: Early Programming Books

I recently scanned my copy of "Electronic Computers: Principles and Applications" by TE. Ivall (1956) and there is a chapter on "Programming Digital Computers". It is more of a general overview, rather than any machine specifics. https://archive.org/details/electronic-computers/page/183/mode/2up

Re: Early Programming Books

On 2021-Jun-20, at 7:38 PM, ben via cctech wrote: > On 2021-06-20 8:13 p.m., Toby Thain via cctech wrote: > >> Tried the Shunting Yard algorithm? But watch out, it was invented by a >> quiche eater... > > The problem needs backtracking to generate correct code. Stack or > muilti-register machine

Re: Early Programming Books

On 2021-06-20 8:13 p.m., Toby Thain via cctech wrote: Tried the Shunting Yard algorithm? But watch out, it was invented by a quiche eater... The problem needs backtracking to generate correct code. Stack or muilti-register machines don't have this problem with temporaries. Ben.

Re: Early Programming Books

On 2021-06-20 10:06 p.m., ben via cctech wrote: > On 2021-06-20 6:57 a.m., Toby Thain via cctech wrote: >> On 2021-06-20 1:39 p.m., Paul Birkel via cctech wrote: >>> Dave; >>> >>> I'm much more curious about programming books that were *not* machine >>> specific. >>> That is, about "general princip

Re: Early Programming Books

On 2021-06-20 6:57 a.m., Toby Thain via cctech wrote: On 2021-06-20 1:39 p.m., Paul Birkel via cctech wrote: Dave; I'm much more curious about programming books that were *not* machine specific. That is, about "general principles" of designing/preparing software for execution. Not sure if it'

Re: Early Programming Books

1955: An Introduction to Automatic Computers (Ned Chapin ) I have the second edition — copyright 1963. Chapter 8 is “Elements of Programming” with a fully-worked out assembly language example for a hypothetical machi

Re: VT340 Emulation

On 6/18/21 5:50 PM, Wayne S via cctech wrote: We didn't really need Regis graphics so we never tested that out. I'm not sure what the OP's use case is, but if they / you are wanting ReGIS (or Sixel) graphics, XTerm supports (both of) them. Incidentally, I have my XTerm configured to set it's

Re: Early Programming Books

On Sun, 2021-06-20 at 04:43 -0400, Paul Birkel via cctech wrote: > I know of two early computer (in the stored program sense) programming > books. Not about early EARLY programming, but I have some books (manuals) that are yours if you send me a PDF of a shipping label for a 10"x12" 1lb 2oz envelo

Re: Early Programming Books

> On Jun 20, 2021, at 1:19 PM, Norman Jaffe via cctech > wrote: > > Basically, pre-1960, there couldn't be a 'general book on programming', since > every system was a unique environment - the only languages that could even be > remotely considered to be common were ALGOL 60 and FORTRAN II..

Re: Early Programming Books

On Sun, 20 Jun 2021, Bill Degnan via cctech wrote: Paul, I have been compiling a library of such. Ioks here, if you are traveling north swing by to review the books on hand. The one that comes to mind is Thinking Machunrs by Berkeley but here on the patio at my parents house I dont know the date

RE: Early Programming Books

Paul, What about Approximations for Digital Computers Cecil Hastings Jr., Jeanne T. Wayward, and James P. Wong Jr. Whilst its about a specific problem its not machine specific. It was originally published as papers in 1955 and as book later, but my copy retains its 1955 copyright. Dave >

Re: Early Programming Books

Paul, I have been compiling a library of such. Ioks here, if you are traveling north swing by to review the books on hand. The one that comes to mind is Thinking Machunrs by Berkeley but here on the patio at my parents house I dont know the date. Harvard press put out some early computing books b

Re: Early Programming Books

Very good question! Bill On Sun, Jun 20, 2021, 4:44 AM Paul Birkel via cctech wrote: > I know of two early computer (in the stored program sense) programming > books. > > > > 1951: Preparation of Programs for an Electronic Digital Computer > (Wilkes, Wheeler, & Gill) > > 1957: Digital Co

Re: Early Programming Books

Going back to the time around 1960, I'd like to venture the opinion that most data processing of the time was performed with unit-record equipment. That is, sorters, reproducing punches, interpreters, accounting machines, etc., none of which were programmed by "software", but by wiring plugboards o

Re: Early Programming Books

> On Jun 20, 2021, at 12:19 PM, Norman Jaffe via cctech > wrote: > > Basically, pre-1960, there couldn't be a 'general book on programming', since > every system was a unique environment - the only languages that could even be > remotely considered to be common were ALGOL 60 and FORTRAN II..

Re: Early Programming Books

Basically, pre-1960, there couldn't be a 'general book on programming', since every system was a unique environment - the only languages that could even be remotely considered to be common were ALGOL 60 and FORTRAN II... and they were 'extended' by every manufacturer to provide, at least, some f

Re: Early Programming Books

Aside from the very general Algol report and the Iverson book on APL, I have to admit that most of my programming knowledge came out of manufacturer's manuals, specific to a maker's systems. The APL book was, at the time, pretty much useless for writing any sort of serious code until you got hold

Re: Early Programming Books

A few years later, but Iverson's A Programming Language (1962) was written before APL was actually implemented and is all about a symbolic mathematical notation for expressing operations. From the preface via Wikipedia: "Applied mathematics is largely concerned with the design and analysis of expl

RE: Early Programming Books

TYDAC (TYpical Digital Automatic Computer) is very much an instruction set of its time. Memory is 2000 words of ten decimal digits and sign. Words are either numbers or instructions. I/O is punch cards, special typewriter, or a paper-tape reading device on the typewriter. Four magnetic tapes are a

Re: Early Programming Books

In an earlier message, I referred to the Aho et al. "Dragon Book" and then incorrectly cited the 1986 "Red Dragon Book". My reference was the 1977 "Green Dragon Book", also by Aho et al, but carrying the title of "Principles of Compiler Design". Gotta keep my dragons straight. --Chuck

Re: Early Programming Books

Some may find this paper interesting on the FORTRAN I compiler: https://www.cs.fsu.edu/~lacher/courses/COT4401/notes/cise_v2_i1/fortran.pdf I will add that the diagnostic error messages for FORTRAN I were pretty good for the time. Missing a comma in a computed GOTO? There was an error message t

VT100 colors

Hello, Does anyone know what colors a VT100 is? Most photos online has it looking yellowish, but I expect that's from aging. Some people I have asked claim it was a light cream color. This bitsavers picture has it looking neutral grey: http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/dec/terminal/vt100/vt100_wps-8

Re: Early Programming Books

On 2021-Jun-20, at 9:19 PM, ben via cctalk wrote: > On 2021-06-20 9:01 p.m., Brent Hilpert via cctalk wrote: >> On 2021-Jun-20, at 7:38 PM, ben via cctech wrote: >>> On 2021-06-20 8:13 p.m., Toby Thain via cctech wrote: >>> Tried the Shunting Yard algorithm? But watch out, it was invented by

Re: Early Programming Books

On 2021-06-20 9:01 p.m., Brent Hilpert via cctalk wrote: On 2021-Jun-20, at 7:38 PM, ben via cctech wrote: On 2021-06-20 8:13 p.m., Toby Thain via cctech wrote: Tried the Shunting Yard algorithm? But watch out, it was invented by a quiche eater... The problem needs backtracking to generate c

Re: Early Programming Books

On 2021-Jun-20, at 7:38 PM, ben via cctech wrote: > On 2021-06-20 8:13 p.m., Toby Thain via cctech wrote: > >> Tried the Shunting Yard algorithm? But watch out, it was invented by a >> quiche eater... > > The problem needs backtracking to generate correct code. Stack or > muilti-register machine

Re: Who has a working Terak?

At 10:50 AM 6/19/2021, you wrote: >off topic, but since Teraks came up >does anyone have boot disks for the later Calcomp Teraks that have an NEC 7220 >graphics color graphics board? I have one 8600 color (Q-Bus add-on, separate box) system I inherited from a Terak founder. His estate didn't pro

Re: VT340 Emulation

On 6/19/21 11:47 AM, Douglas Taylor via cctalk wrote: Really?  I'm interested.  How do you build your own xterm? Download and extract the source code. Here's the configure command that I most recently used before teaching Gentoo's ebuild about Sixel and ReGIS. (The command is derived from th

Re: Early Programming Books

> Begin forwarded message: > > From: Norman Jaffe via cctalk > Subject: Re: Early Programming Books > Date: June 20, 2021 at 10:26:27 AM EDT > To: "General Discussion, On-Topic Posts Only" > Reply-To: Norman Jaffe , "General Discussion: On-Topic and > Off-Topic Posts" > > I have two books

Re: Early Programming Books

> On Jun 20, 2021, at 4:43 AM, Paul Birkel via cctalk > wrote: > > I know of two early computer (in the stored program sense) programming > books. > >1951: Preparation of Programs for an Electronic Digital Computer > (Wilkes, Wheeler, & Gill) > >1957: Digital Computer Programming (M

Wanted: IBM 2671 docs and IBM stuff

Dear All, Recently I received an IBM 2671 paper tape reader and have been slowly restoring it. However I've hit a bit of a brick wall because no service docs are known. If you are sitting on some please do let me know. I am also looking for other bits of IBM mainframe/midrange stuff to restore

RE: Early Programming Books

When it comes to McCracken I feel a bit like Homer Simpson "Donuts ... is there anything they can't do?" He certainly made a career out of writing programming language instruction texts. -Original Message- From: cctech [mailto:cctech-boun...@classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Norman Jaffe vi

RE: Early Programming Books

Paul, I assumed that was the case, but the inclusion of the Wilkes book confused me. I think there really is a spectrum of books, so say pre-1955 all books assumed the reader had little knowledge of programming. For example the MK1 guide I pointed you to is V2. Its rumoured that Turing wrote V1

Re: Early Programming Books

I have two books on ALGOL 60 from 1962 - A Guide to ALGOL Programming, Daniel D. McCracken A Primer Of ALGOL 60 Programming, E.W. Dijkstra For APL, there is this from 1962 - A Programming Language, Kenneth E. Iverson However, I also have a reference from 1960 - LISP I Programmer's Manual, J

Re: Wanted: Hp Display Tube 5083-1551

On Sun, Jun 20, 2021 at 11:23 AM Holm Tiffe via cctalk wrote: > > hi all, > a friend of mine (Hartmut) is restoring desktop- and pocketcaluculators > as a hobby. Lately he got an HP9100B on his desk with a bad display tube (the > getters are white) but is otherwise in a good shape. > > Is here pos

Re: Early Programming Books

On 2021-06-20 1:39 p.m., Paul Birkel via cctech wrote: > Dave; > > I'm much more curious about programming books that were *not* machine > specific. > That is, about "general principles" of designing/preparing software for > execution. Not sure if it's what you are looking for, but if you haven't

RE: Early Programming Books

Dave; I'm much more curious about programming books that were *not* machine specific. That is, about "general principles" of designing/preparing software for execution. Of course, one needs a language; McCracken (1957) defines TYDAC. Much later (1968) Knuth defines MIX. In between perhaps one co

RE: Early Programming Books

Paul, What about machine specific manuals, so for example the Manchester MK1 programming manual, the second edition of which is archived here:- https://web.archive.org/web/20090526192456/http://www.computer50.org/kgill/m ark1/progman.html In fact I expect that first book refers specifically to ED

Early Programming Books

I know of two early computer (in the stored program sense) programming books. 1951: Preparation of Programs for an Electronic Digital Computer (Wilkes, Wheeler, & Gill) 1957: Digital Computer Programming (McCracken) What others were published prior to the McCracken text? Exclud

Wanted: Hp Display Tube 5083-1551

hi all, a friend of mine (Hartmut) is restoring desktop- and pocketcaluculators as a hobby. Lately he got an HP9100B on his desk with a bad display tube (the getters are white) but is otherwise in a good shape. Is here possibly someone that has such an display Tube to sell? Kind Regards from Germ