On 6/20/2026, ben <bfranchuk(a)jetnet.ab.ca> wrote:
> PL/1 and C are the only two high level languages a operating system is
> written in, that I can think of that are well documented, and easily
> found on the WEB.
Additional examples:
Pilot (the embedded operating system for the Xerox Star office
automation system) was written in Xerox's proprietary Mesa language.
History and documentation of Mesa (and some Pilot documentation and
early source code) are available here:
https://softwarepreservation.computerhistory.org/mesa/
Taos, the operating system for the DEC Systems Research Center Firefly
multiprocessor workstation, was written in Modula-2+, which added
threads, garbage collection, and runtime type dispatch to Modula-2.
History and documentation of Modula-2+ (and Taos) are available here:
https://softwarepreservation.computerhistory.org/modula2+/
SPIN, an extensible operating system written at the University of
Washington, was written in Modula-3 (with small extensions). History and
documentation for Modula-3 are available here:
https://softwarepreservation.computerhistory.org/modula3/ and
information on SPIN is available here:
https://softwarepreservation.computerhistory.org/modula3/#SPIN_M3 .
Anyone here have an interest or need for a HP13394A removable disk
pack? I stumbled across it in a garage cabinet at an estate sale.
According to google, it was used in a HP7920 disk drive system with
early HP mini processors. Before I post it on THAT website, figured I'd
check to see if anyone here could use it. Unit seems in fairly good
shape - at least physically. Please respond off-list if interested.
Steve Shumaker
UNCOL failed because of many reasons, none that I know of.
I put the blame on hardware design,throw some logic and memory together
CHEAP,QUICK and DIRTY and call it a computer if you can sell one.
Call it a computer standard if it for a PHD.
Today's memory is loosely based on 8 bit byte addressing, yet there
is no Mathematical abstract model to base the computing side of the
picture. What are the problems that need to be solved? What are the real
world hardware problems like I/O? Are things defined recursivity, in
that a simple version, can expand to a complex, and really complex
version. Register addressing,base register addressing, array, base
register addressing ... Algol 9000.
UNCOL is from the era, that it was thought lower cost hardware as gates
and memory it would possible have general purpose computer of 32K words
or more. 36 bits or bigger word length for single precision floating
point. A character set of LATIN upper and lower case letters,and a
limited ALGOL 60 character set, like '10' and 'BEGIN' keys.
The RLV12 (RL02 drive controller) in my PDP-11/23+ has decided to quit
working when it gets hot in the room.
RT-11 won't boot, with an ERR 15 Controller Error.
The defect may have become permanent, will have to check in the morning
when everything's cool.
The drives themselves are not indicating any faults, and both of them
exhibit the same behavior on boot.
Trying to rig up an emulator (or boot XXDP from the Teac 3.5" floppy)
introduces a whole new set of hair-pullers.
Since the RLV12 is so complex, I am tempted just to replace it, if one
can be had... so does anyone have one they don't need? :)
thanks
Charles
Anyone do any real work with either the Icon or Unicon language family? I recall fondly sending off for a 1/2" tape with an early Icon distribution from the University of Arizona. I played around with it personally, but never got to use either professionally.
Darn - my beloved Planar ELT320 terminal has died. I was just sitting
there using it and suddenly the screen went blank. The keyboard still works
and the power LED lights, so not a simply power supply failure.
Does anybody have a schematic or service manual for these guys? It's one
of my favorite terminals - not only does it have a beautiful orange/amber EL
display, but it's also way smaller and lighter than any VTxxx terminal of
the era.
Thanks
Bob
Hello!
Last year I rescued a HP 2116B that was going to be scrapped. It has been
in storage for quite many years but now the storage building was going to
be demolished and a quite urgent rescue operation took place.
The machine is now sitting and waiting to be restored to operational
condition.
When examining the machine it was quickly discovered that it was lacking a
few boards.
Notably the Memory Module Decoder board which goes into slot 2 and the
Power fail board in slot 1 were missing.
When I pulled out the card cage to examine the PSU it turned out that also
the two regulator modules for the PSU were missing.
Since I received the machine I have been able to find a Power Fail board on
Ebay, but three boards are still missing:
Memory Module Decoder (02116-6274 or 02116-6300)
Logic Supply Regulator (02116-6014)
Memory Supply Regulator (02116-6015 or 02116-63214)
Is there anyone here on the list that happens to have these spare boards or
a HP 2116 that is beyond repair? I have been thinking of replicating these
boards but it would be nice to find the original and spend the time on
something else than tedious replicating work.
Reading a 12 year old cctalk thread I saw that Tim Riker had an HP 2116 in
not so good condition once upon a time. I wonder if there is anything left
from that one?
/Mattis
I bought one of Vince Slyngstad's PDP-8 Omnibus 32Kword board kits
(battery backed-up RAM) a few years ago. I assembled it and it worked as
designed.
(I had an 8/A with 32K of actual core so I didn't use it other than a test).
Having sold my PDP-8/A system and not contemplating owning another, I'd
like to sell this board to someone who could use it.
But I have no idea what it's worth... make me an offer, or at least
recommend a price?
thanks
Charles
Didn't show up on the list, so re-sending it:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2026 12:14:39 -0700 (PDT)
From: Fred Cisin <cisin(a)xenosoft.com>
Subject: [cctalk] Ramac : The real first disk drive? (Was: Floppy disk
The first known and recognized disk drive of ANY type (hard disk preceded
floppy) was the Ramac, 70 years ago, 1956
https://www.computerhistory.org/storageengine/first-commercial-hard-disk-dr…
First one shipped was to Crown-Zellerbach Paper Company
CHM says June;
EDN and Google AI (Gemini) say September 13, 1956
https://www.edn.com/ibm-intros-1st-computer-disk-storage-unit-september-13-…
But, Gemini seems to also hallucinate RAMAC as being a company!
"At the 1958 Worlds Fair, RAMAC showcased its revolutionary random-access
capabilities by answering world history questions in 10 different languages."
(There was no Ramac Company exhibiting at the 1958 Worlds Fair)
Ramac had fifty 2 foot diameter double sided platters, and could hold a total
of about 5MB. Modern drives can have even higher density!
I have a crashed Ramac platter, that I have made into a patio table, with the
platter under glass.
In 1959, Nikita Khrushchev visited USA for 12 days, to try to calm the cold war
a bit.
On September 19, 1959, he tried to visit Disneyland,
State Department and Disneyland consulted with each other, and they would not
let him go to disneyland! Khrushchev was angry about that:
"What is it? Is there an epidemic of cholera there or something? Or have
gangsters taken over the place that can destroy me?"
Frank Sinatra hosted a massive celebrity lunch for him at 20th Century Fox
Studios, attended by Marilyn Monroe, Shirley MacLaine, Gary Cooper, etc.
When Nina Khrushchev expressed her disappointment about Disneyland, Sinatra
said to David Niven, "Hmm, tell the old broad that WE will sneak them in".
Apparently that visit didn't happen, or was very sneaky.
I remember a New Yorker cartoon that showed a soviet sub surfacing off-shore to
sneak him in.
Y'know, if they hadn't banned them from Disneyland, the entire Cuban missile
crisis would have been a lot less hostile!
To make up for not letting him go to Disneyland, the State Department, on
September 21, 1959, took him to San Jose, to tour IBM's facility, and see
Ramac.
S'posedly, Khrushchev was more impressed by the operation and efficiency of the
company self service cafeteria, than by Ramac.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin(a)xenosoft.com
