Advent of Computing

My coverage of the IBM System/360 continues! In this episode we look at US v IBM, and the fallout that surrounded the release of the System/360. By 1969 IBM already had a history of antitrust litigation. What was IBM doing to upset the Department of Justice, and how does it tie in to the larger story of clone computers?   Selected Sources:   http://www.cptech.org/at/ibm/ibm1956cd.html - 1956 Consent Decree   https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/298/131/ - 1936 Consent Decree   https://archive.org/details/foldedspindledmu00fish/page/n5/mode/2up - Folded, Spindled, and Mutilated

In this episode I sit down and talk with Micki and Steve about VCF SoCal, a new Vintage Computer Festival! The event is taking place in Orange, California on Febuary 16th and 17th. VCFs are a wonderful time, and a great opportunity to meet up with other retro enthusiasts. The weekend will be filled with exhibits and speakers, including myself! I will be in attendence, and talking about some super cool technology. Stick around until the end of the interview for the full details. More information on VCF SoCal can be found at: https://www.vcfsocal.com/

The podcast discusses the release of the IBM System/360 as a milestone in computing history. It explores the concept of compatibility, the rise of PC clones, and the impact of a single computer system dominating the market. The podcast also covers the development of the IBM System 360, the role of microcode in simplifying computer design, and achieving backwards compatibility.

Released in 1982, the Jupiter Ace is a fascinating little computer. It's hardware isn't much to write home about. It's just an 8-bit microcomputer very much in line with other systems of the era. Where it shines is it's software. In a period when most home computer ran some version of BASIC the Ace was using Forth. On the surface that might sound like a trivial difference, but that one deviation from the norm made all the difference in the world.   Selected Sources:   https://www.theregister.com/2012/09/21/jupiter_cantab_jupiter_ace_is_30_years_old - The Register article on the Ace   https://jupiter-ace.co.uk/documents_index.html - Every other Ace resource you could ever want

Tools are the most important programs in the world. Without quality tools it's impossible to write quality software. One of those most important of those tools, and the most hotly coveted, is the text editor. These programs offer us a window into the digital world. It's no wonder that programmers the world over basically live inside text editors. In this episode will discuss when exactly that digital window was opened. When did text editors first appear? What forms did they take?   Selected Sources:   https://www.computerhistory.org/pdp-1/_media/pdf/DEC.pdp_1.1960.102650331.pdf - Colossal Typewriter Manual   https://www.si.edu/media/NMAH/NMAH-AC1498_Transcript_StephenPiner.pdf - Piner Oral History   https://opost.com/tenex/anhc-31-4-anec.pdf - The Beginnings of TECO

Most accounts of the early history of programming languages all share something in common. They all have a sentence or two explaining how there was great resistance to these new languages, but eventually all programmers were won over. Progress was made, despite the forces of counterrevolutionaries. What you won't find in most histories are the actual arguments these counterrevolutionaries made. This episode we are looking at those arguments. I've tracked down a handful of papers that argue against digital progress. Are these truly cursed articles, or is there something to be learned from arguments against programming?   Selected Sources:   https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/1455270.1455272 - Why Not Try A Plugboard? https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/367390.367404 - Comments from a FORTRAN User https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/320932.320939 - Methods of Simulating a Differential Analyzer on a Digital Computer

Explore the simplicity and accessibility of RCA's COSMAC architecture, a cheap and easy-to-understand computer design from the 70s. Learn about the development of the COSMAC microprocessor, the transition of RCA into the computer industry, and the evolution of the consumer-grade computer called Fred into the COSMAC processor. Discover the unique features and quirks of the COSMAC Elf computer trainer, and the importance of Direct Memory Access in computer systems. Join the call for more chips like the COSMAC and support the podcast.

This podcast delves into the era of batch processing in early computing, discussing the challenges faced by programmers in accessing computer time. It explores the significance of the IBM 704 and the MIT Computation Center, as well as the impact of batch processing on programmers. The chapter also explores the origins of user groups and the development of operating systems.

Exploring the mysterious 'Viral Dark Ages' of computer viruses between 1972 and 1982, discussing the scarcity of documented viruses during this time, origins and early mentions of computer viruses, the lack of ethical standards in the early days of computing, trap doors in computer security, the creation and consequences of a rogue worm program at Xerox Park, and the prevalence of worms and Trojan horses during this era.

Explore the origin of the byte and why it's 8 bits. Discover the significance of the number 8 in computer science. Learn about the term 'bit' and its connection to binary representation. Dive into the complexity of building memory and the use of punch cards in early computers. Uncover the evolution of byte sizes and the development of eight-bit character encoding.