old threaded languages, was Re: Symbolics

Jay West wrote: -> The first OS type design project I was ever offered was to write -> a run time -> forth interpreter and complete OS environment for it on Microdata Reality -> computers (subsequently McDonnell Douglas Computer Systems). As I recall -> they had some type of medical oriented accounting or business package -> written in forth and they wanted to make it run (without another -> underlying -> OS) on the Reality platform (which they owned). As an ex-Microdata (then MDCS) senior field engineer I can say that would have been quite a feat, since the Reality microcode (2901s again) was optimized for the PICK OS. The real problem would have been getting any information out of Microdata on the microcode, which was considered proprietary information. Writing a Data Basic application would have been easy, since this was encouraged (the more vertical markets, the better the sales), but the underlying OS code was closely guarded, along with the microcode. This applied to all the I/O code also, since the company wanted you to buy *everything* from them. The only place there was any OS source code was at the Irvine HQ. Even the ROM board that contained the microcode was separate from the CPU board set and was never sold to the customer, it was leased to them and remained the property of Microdata. Upon re-sale (almost never) or decommissioning (most likely) of a system, the ROM board was to be pulled and returned to Microdata/MDCS immediately. This is why you'll hardly ever find an older Reality system in operating condition, although there were times when the return of the ROM board was overlooked d8^) For a nice picture of the REALITY logo, visit http://www.wpic.com/whdawson/Pics/reality.jpg When MDCS closed down the local sales branch, I obtained this sign. I always liked this logo with its "optical illusion". I think it was a play on the old "What is reality" saying. Bill whdawson(a)mlynk.com