A few of the self-tests I?ve seen on the 147s set BRDFAIL if the NVRAM doesn?t pass, so perhaps changing the NVRAM for a known good would be a place to start.
Richard
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
Hi,
Not hardware ... but an antique software / programming concept.
Some decades ago (circa late 1970s?), I *think* I came across a concept of
"raising the semantic level" of a program by using defines/macros and newly
written library functions. The concept was that a given language provided
a particular level of semantics. By judicious/clever use of things like
macros, one could "raise" the level of semantics, effectively appearing to
add new features to the language (or, in this case, the instance of the
language as used in the program).
I *thought* I got that concept from Terry Wingrad's excellent "Breaking the
Complexity Barrier again" (Nov, 1974,
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/951761.951764 )
...but, no. It's not in that paper.
Does the concept ring a bell?
Can anyone provide a pointer to where I might have seen it?
It's formed the basis of my own personal programming philosophy for nearly
50 years, and I want to know where I found it, or if I might have thought
of it myself.
thanks!
Stan
> From: Peter Dick
> As I expect you know, RSTS was 'born' on 11th June 1970 as shown when
> you print DATE$(1%) ...
> This means RSTS/E, the Greatest Operating System ever, has just turned
> 50 years old.
Err, I expect that that was RSTS-11 in June, 1970, not RSTS-E. Since RSTS-11
(which I learned to program on; happy memories :-) was a BASIC-PLUS only
system, and ran on a PDP-11/20, I suspect it was a fairly different operating
system (although no doubt it's BASIC-PLUS interpreter was ported to RSTS-E).
I think RSTS/E needed the -11/45, introduced around June 1972; sources
give 1973 for RSTS/E.
Noel
> From: Peter Dick
> Question: how do the three of you (Noel) cctalk at classiccmp.org and Paul
> Koning fit together?
CCTalk is a mailing list for people who collect antique ('classic') computers;
Paul and I are both members. I collect PDP-11's (I used them in school from
'72 to '76, and worked with them from '77 to the mid-80's). Jay West, who
maintains the list, forwarded your email query about RSTS/E to the list.
(Paul you can find in the RSTS 80th birthday spoof, BTW.)
Noel
> From: Paul Koning
> RSTS/E of course has a bunch of new stuff in it to deal with mapping,
> but the bulk of the code carries over from RSTS-11.
I was assuming that the basic intermal environment was sufficiently different
that not a lot of the OS-level code could carry over, but I guess not.
DId you actually work on RSTS-11 internals (I don't know your exact dates at
DEC), or did you just read the source?
And speaking of which, are any RSTS-11 sources still extant? I found the RSTS
directory on BitSavers, but it seems to have only manuals.
Noel
I'm trying to figure out what were the earliest Type numbers for 3M ?-inch reel-to-reel computer tape
As best I can find, 3M began marketing a Type 777 computer tape about 1967. The Type 700 appears to be somewhat later. But 3M sold computer tape directly to at least government customers (e.g. NSA, Social Security) in the 1950s. The also notably OEMed tape to IBM who rebranded it under an IBM label until the late 1960s at which point with the help of Sony IBM began manufacturing its own computer tape.
Anyone have any idea of the Type number for 3M computer tapes earlier than Type 777?
There might be a place for some of these older Types at the CHM if anyone knows of any still in existence.
Tom
PS: There is a lot of information on 3M audio tape Type numbers as at http://www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/3mtape/aorprod-cust.pdf but computer tape seems to be an orphan
Please copy cctalk/cctech on any responses to Peter.
J
From: Peter Dick <peter at balvine.com>
Sent: Saturday, June 27, 2020 4:34 PM
To: jwest at classiccmp.org
Subject: RSTS/E has just had its 50th Birthday...
Hi. I stumbled on your wonderful PDP11.ORG website.
As I expect you know, RSTS was ?born? on 11th June 1970 as shown when you print DATE$(1%) with Star Date format selected.
This means RSTS/E, the Greatest Operating System ever, has just turned 50 years old.
We would like to mark this historic moment by collecting a total of 50 memories from those of us who used RSTS/E at some time, obviously the earlier the better. Or if you are still running old Basic Plus code, then the later the better! I will then collate these memories and email them out to everyone who takes part.
What memories? It doesn?t matter. Funny / technical / life changing / surprise / show how times have changed / whatever ?
Length? It doesn?t matter. Your name will be included but not your email address unless you specifically want it included.
Please email contributions to 50years at silverware.co.uk <mailto:50years at silverware.co.uk>
Bye/P
Peter Dick, ex Chairman DECUS UK RSTS SIG.
> The file is empty.
Not much I go do except stop trying and advise people to ignore all this.
I've just downloaded the file from my site, and it is NOT empty
and does work.
I did notice a small bug, if you specify names not in it's database
it doesn't tell you, and produces no output. I have corrected it.
Dave
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Personal site: http://dunfield.maknonsolutions.com
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