DECUS Paper Tapes

Auto Test in Elementary Programming and Operation of a PDP-5 computer The program will type questions or instructions to be performed by the operator of a 4K PDP-5/8. The program will check to see if the operator has answered the questions correctly. If this is the case, it wil type the next questionor instruction. A time-shared programming system which allows remote stations immediate access to the computer and a wide selection of programs. Needs FORTRAN Object Time System The purpose of this system is to expedite the programming of multiprocessing problems on the PDP-8 and PDP-8/S. It maximizes both the input speed and the portionm of real time actualy used for calculations by allowing the program to run during the intervals between issuing I/O commands and the raising of the device flag to signal completion of the command. The technique also allows queueing of input data or commands so that the user need not wait while his last line is being processed, and so that each line of input may be processed as fast as possible regardless of its length. The system uses the interrupt facilities and has less than 3% overhead on the PDP-8/S (about 0.1% on the PDP-8). This method is especially useful for a slower machine where the problem may easily be calculation limited but would, without such a system, become I/o bound. The program may also be easily extended to handle input from an A/D converter. Here, the input would be buffered by groups of readings terminated either arbitrarily in groups of N or by zero crossings. This program can increase the I/O to computation efficiency of some programs by 100%. It can do this even for single Teletype. Each user will probably want to tailor the program to his individual needs. Storage Requirement: 600(base 8) registers for two TTY's plus buffer space. (Several device configurations are possible). -Lawrence (just got a 1975 DECUS catalog 2 days ago) LeMay