20 Jun
2021
20 Jun
'21
8:41 a.m.
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 assumed as auxiliary memory.
ALU includes an Accumulator (11 digits + sign) and Multiply-Quotient (10
digits + sign).
Instruction set includes floating-decimal add, multiply, and divide.
46 instructions (out of a possible 100) are defined.
-----Original Message-----
From: dave.g4ugm at gmail.com [mailto:dave.g4ugm at gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2021 10:51 AM
To: 'Paul Birkel'; 'General Discussion: On-Topic Posts'
Subject: 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 and no one could understand it but I think it more likely the
machine changed.
I also looked at the IBM 701 manuals and they too have some generic info at
the front.
However I also wonder what the earliest books were like.
Dave
G4UGM
(You might want to e-mail Simon Lavington
https://www.essex.ac.uk/people/lavin12900/simon-lavington
he has done a lot of research on early computing, and might know more.)
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Birkel <pbirkel at gmail.com>
Sent: 20 June 2021 13:40
To: dave.g4ugm at gmail.com; 'General Discussion: On-Topic Posts'
<cctech at classiccmp.org>
Subject: 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 could argue that ALGOL 58 qualifies as such a
language-for-demonstration, but I don't believe that there were any books
specifically about programming in ALGOL 58. I presume that there were
eventually such books for ALGOL 60.
Then there's FORTRAN, in which context I first encountered McCracken
(1961:
Guide to FORTRAN Programming).
Obviously my first example was EDSAC-centric. And yours is specific to
the
Manchester MK1.
-----Original Message-----
From: dave.g4ugm at gmail.com [mailto:dave.g4ugm at gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2021 6:57 AM
To: 'Paul Birkel'; 'General Discussion: On-Topic Posts'
Subject: 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 EDSAC, so is in
effect
machine specific. There must have been similar manuals
for other machines?
I know there is a Ferranti Pegasus Programming manual, the copy I have is
dated 1962 but as the last Pegasus was produced in 1959 there must have
been earlier editions.
Dave
-----Original Message-----
From: cctech <cctech-bounces at classiccmp.org> On Behalf Of Paul Birkel
via cctech
Sent: 20 June 2021 09:44
To: 'General Discussion: On-Topic Posts' <cctech at classiccmp.org>
Subject: 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?
Excluded are lecture compendia and symposia proceedings, such as:
1946: Moore School Lectures
1947: Proceedings of a Symposium on Large-Scale Digital
Calculating
Machinery
1951: Proceedings of a Second Symposium on
Large-Scale Digital
Calculating Machinery
1953: Faster Than Thought, A Symposium On
Digital Computing
Machines
These were principally about designs for, and experience with, new
hardware.
I'm curious about texts specifically focused on the act of programming.
Were there others prior to McCracken?
paul