Advent of Computing

We're finally taking a look at Sketchpad. This program was completed in 1963 as Ivan Sutherland's Ph.D. research. On the surface it looks like a very fancy drawing program. Under the hood it's hiding some impressive new programming techniques.   Selected Sources:   http://worrydream.com/refs/Sutherland-Sketchpad.pdf - Sutherland's Sketchpad thesis   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=495nCzxM9PI - Sketchpad in action   https://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102738195 - Oral History transcripts

This episode I attempt to find the first interactive computer text interface. All I can say is, well, it's a journey.   Selected Sources:   https://sci-hub.se/10.2307/3917015 - Early article on Stibitz's CNC Model I   https://archive.org/details/fortranprimer0000orga/page/103/mode/1up?view=theater - Primer on the FORTRAN Monitor System   https://kyber.io/rawvids/LISP_I_Programmers_Manual_LISP_I_Programmers_Manual.pdf - LISP I manual

This episode picks up where we left off last time. We are looking at Ada and its applications. How does Ada handle tasking? What's the deal with objects? And, most importantly, what are some neat uses of the language?   Selected Sources:   https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/956653.956654 - Rationale for the Design of Ada   https://trs.jpl.nasa.gov/bitstream/handle/2014/45345/08-2590_A1b.pdf - Cassini's AACS computer and software   http://www.bitsavers.org/components/intel/iAPX_432/171821-001_Introduction_to_the_iAPX_432_Architecture_Aug81.pdf - Behold the iAPX 432

Ada is a fascinating language with a fascinating history. It was initially developed as part of a Department of Defence project. The plan was to create a standardized language for everyone inside the DoD. The results, well, they may just surprise you.   Selected Sources:   http://archive.adaic.com/pol-hist/history/holwg-93/holwg-93.htm - Ada at the HOLWG   https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/956653.956654 - Rationale for the Design of Ada   http://iment.com/maida/computer/requirements/strawman.htm - Strawman

Advent of Computing has finally reached 100 episodes! Today we are taking a break from the usual content to discuss the show, it's arc, and some of the mysteries I have yet to solve.

UNIX is a big deal. It's one of the most influential programs in history. Most operating systems that we use today can trace their lineage back to UNIX. The only notable exception at this point is Windows. But all these new-fangled operating systems aren't blood relatives of UNIX, they are all derivatives. Second cousins, if you will. So how did we get from UNIX into a diverse field of UNIX-like things? It all starts with a little project at UC Berkeley.   Selected Sources:   https://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2022/06/102743073-05-01-acc.pdf - Oral History of Bill Joy   https://archive.org/details/aquartercenturyofunixpeterh.salus_201910/page/n157/mode/2up?view=theater - A Quarter Century of UNIX

This time we are looking at a somewhat obscure machine: the Canon Cat. Designed by Jef Raskin, the Cat is sometimes called the spiritual successor to the Macintosh. That's a nice little epitaph, but doesn't fully explain the tangled mess of things between Raskin, Jobs, Apple, and the Mac. Today we will try to untangle some of that mess as we examine a fascinating little computer that could have changed the world.   Selected Sources:   http://www.canoncat.net/ -- Everything about the Cat   https://archive.org/details/Apple_Mac_Selected_Papers_1980/ -- Raskin's Macintosh memos   https://www.digibarn.com/friends/jef-raskin/writings/millions.html  -- Computers by the Millions

We've approach the beast itself: SQL. Or, as it used to be known, SEQUEL. In this episode we will discuss how early navigational databases failed, and how we were able to move past them into a relational future. It's a fascinating tale about how careful research and planning can lead to much better tools.   Selected sources:   https://www.seas.upenn.edu/~zives/03f/cis550/codd.pdf -- Dr. Codd on relational databases   https://web.archive.org/web/20070926212100/http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/people/chamberlin/sequel-1974.pdf -- The first SEQUEL paper   https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~brewer/cs262/SystemR.pdf -- A History and Evaluation of System R

Explore the origins and evolution of databases, including the integrated data store (IDS) and IBM's IMS system. Dive into the transition to multitasking and random access, as well as the importance of database manipulation languages. Learn about the impact of GCOM and the need for new database designs.

So far I've strayed away from hypermedia in my larger hypertext coverage. This episode helps to fix that. Today we are looking at Aspen Movie Map, a project from 1978 that created a virtual Aspen, Colorado. Why would you want to digitize an entire city? Why did DARPA fund a trip to Aspen? And how does this link up with hypermedia? All this and more will be answered.