REL APL-11

[Marc Howard]

The only things I remember about APL were:

1. Square <backspace> divide symbol formed something that looked like a
domino (1 over 1) and was the random number generator.
2. Someone always finds a way to do a moderate sized task in one line of
code.  The ultimate obfuscated code contest.

Marc


On Mon, Mar 30, 2020 at 4:35 PM John H. Reinhardt via cctalk <
cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:

> On 3/30/2020 6:29 PM, Marc Howard wrote:
> > Stupid question time.  I last used APL in a class in 1975.  Back then
> you needed a magic terminal and/or a magic Selectric typeball.  How does
> one input or print a program on a PDP-11 with mere mortal equipment?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Marc Howard
> >
> > On Mon, Mar 30, 2020 at 4:07 PM John H. Reinhardt via cctalk <
> cctalk at classiccmp.org <mailto:cctalk at classiccmp.org>> wrote:
> >
> >     On 3/30/2020 1:37 PM, Mark Matlock via cctalk wrote:
> >     >
> >     > Bill,
> >     >      I have the APL-11 V2.1 source files on a RL02 disk image. I
> will make it available at http://www.rsx11m.com/apl11.zip <
> http://www.rsx11m.com/apl11.zip>
> >     >
> >     >      Once you mount the disk image with Simh, the are two ready to
> run task images that will run under RSX11M or M+
> >     > In [201,200]APL6OK.TSK and APL7OK.TSK that are the REAL*4 and
> REAL*8 versions of APL-11. On the disk are the
> >     > Original .MAC sources as well as files from a RSX SIG tape that
> modified APL-11 for I/D under RSX11M+ that increased
> >     > The workspace (.BXWA from ~30000 to ~60000 bytes). It also
> contains a character set for Vt220 for the APL character set.
> >     >
> >     >     When you install the APL task experiment with the /INC to
> maximize the available workspace, On my system, I can
> >     > INS APL6.TSK/INC=37000 to max the workspace for the single
> precision version.
> >     >
> >     >     Also, the scanned APL-11 reference manual can be downloaded at
> http://www.rsx11m.com/APL-11-Ref-Man.pdf <
> http://www.rsx11m.com/APL-11-Ref-Man.pdf>
> >     >   and the APL11 installation guide at
> http://www.rsx11m.com/APL11ins.pdf <http://www.rsx11m.com/APL11ins.pdf>
> >     >
> >     >     The RSX SIG files that have the info to change APL-11 to an
> I/D RSX11M+ task are at [370,360] on the RL02 disk. I remember having this
> work back in the mid-1980s butI have not been able to get it to work today.
> If I link it with ODT it seems to blow up when the first overlay is loaded.
> If anyone could help with that I’d really appreciate it!
> >     >
> >     > Best,
> >     > Mark
> >
> >     Thanks Mark!
> >
> >
> >     I remember we had APL at Rose-Hulman when I was in college there
> from 1978-1983.  At first I thought it was on the VAX-11/780 that showed up
> over the summer of 1980, but now I realize it had to have been on our
> PDP-11/70 running RSTS/E. Probably APL-11 V1.X since it was there in the
> Fall of 1978 when I started.  We had a couple of DEC LA36's with the APL
> character set and keyboards.
> >
> >     --
> >     John H. Reinhardt
> >
> Marc,
>
>    On page 1-5 of the APL-11 Reference Manual that Mark posted there is a
> table showing the ACII equivalents for the special APL character set.
> There are also instructions there on how to do it.  It's a combination of
> characters and backspaces.  Kinda tough on a video terminal but workable on
> a printer.
>
> --
> John H. Reinhardt
>
>