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-bounces at
classiccmp.org] On Behalf Of Norman Jaffe via
cctech
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2021 10:26 AM
To: General Discussion, On-Topic Posts Only
Subject: 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. McCarthy et al.
From: "General Discussion, On-Topic Posts Only" <cctech at classiccmp.org>
To: "Paul Birkel" <pbirkel at gmail.com>, "General Discussion,
On-Topic Posts Only" <cctech at classiccmp.org>, "dave g4ugm"
<dave.g4ugm at gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2021 5:57:08 AM
Subject: 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, check out
"Classic Operating Systems" by Per Brinch Hansen.
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.
Pretty sure I own one, by Dijkstra. Will get details later if you are
interested.
--Toby
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