Hello again,
Yes, this time I am trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong while
creating a C program.
It is still in RSX11M+ on my 11/23+ and PDP-11 C 1.1.
I have a really simple test program like this:
+>type test.c
#include <stdio.h>
main() {
puts("Hello, world!");
}
The following is what I do to compile and task build:
+>type tstbld.cmd
.IFNINS MAC INS $MAC
.IFNINS TKB INS $TKB
PIP TEST.C/PU,TSTBLD.CMD/PU,TSTTKB.CMD/PU
CCC TEST.C
TKB @TSTTKB.CMD
PIP TEST.OBJ;*/DE
PIP TEST.TSK/PU
+>type tsttkb.cmd
TEST/-FP=TEST,LB:[1,1]CFPURSX.OLB/LB
/
UNITS=1
ASG=TI:1
TASK=...TST
LIBR=FCSFSL:RO
/
The code compiles fine and TKB has no issues. I get my test.tsk:
+>dir test.tsk
Directory DU0:[200,2]
2-SEP-2026 21:36
TEST.TSK;2 22. C 02-SEP-2026 21:30
Total of 22./22. blocks in 1. file
I run it as '+>run test' and I just get the prompt back. I expect it to
print to the terminal.
What am I missing? Nothing stands out to me in the manual. I'm sure it's
something stupid.
Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.
- Peter
Yes, I did early development on both. At least the interface to the OS was Pascal. I still have the early documentation buried in a box somewhere.
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jun 20, 2026, at 2:02 PM, Fred Cisin via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
> On Sat, 20 Jun 2026, ben via cctalk 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.
>
> I heard that all of the Lisa OS, and much of Macintosh, were written in Pascal. (obviously other than some low-level drivers and performance critical routines?)
> Is that correct?
>
> http://pascal.hansotten.com/apple-lisa-pascal/
>
> When did Macintosh development switch to C?
>
> --
> Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin(a)xenosoft.com
Not my auction etc etc but I believe these are hard to find. Also fits
HP500A and maybe B logic analyser (500C used PS/2).
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/297932090059
Hey gang, a few months ago I presented about timeshare and some aspects
about operating systems since the 1950s.
To buzz through a PDF or PPT version of the notes:
https://github.com/voidstar78/VCF2026
VCFSW has the talk archived here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hE235ti9XQ
Sorry being a bit dull as a speaker, but a few highlights:
- overview of Douglass Ross "Director Tape" for Whirlwind (only "what it
looked like" evidence that I was ever able to find, would be curious if
others knew more about it)
- 1965 Honeywell ADMIRAL OS: while I couldn't find much info about that
specific OS, what I did find what Honeywell went to bat for us all vs RAND
corp, putting an end some concerns about ENIAC hardware patents (that's a
very short version of it)
- today we fight about \ vs / slashes, when MULTICS split the difference
and used > (greater than symbol), at least as far as I could tell from the
manuals
- some verification that UNIX was (sort of) originally called UNICS (see
footnotes in the PPT notes), never formally written down but "verified" in
the past year
- I made a claim that Datapoint CTOS (1972) was the only OS ever on a
cassette tape (not to be confused with the late 1970s CTOS) - that said, I
suppose the MCM/70 did as well; really admires Mattis Lind's work on the
DP2200
I never found too much info about "tymshare" (apparently a late 1960s kind
of "corporate or business-to-business digital exchange" system, maybe for
inventory or check-processing?).
Tons of other OS's, obviously couldn't cover them all in a VCF talk. But
there are a bunch of addendum notes after the end of the slides:
- Mike Muuss ENIAC archive (at a .mil ftp if anyone wants to archive it
more properly?)
- I still claim that the word "operating system" was never used before
1960; the "SOS" or "share OS" was a name applied later (1962ish) to those
pre-1960s concepts [ afaik ]
- I couldn't fit in a bit about squozed :) really wanted to, just couldn't
make it fit
- AOSP, EXEC II, IBM 1800 derivatives (anyone ever see one of these in
the wild?),
Oh, not officially launched yet, but I'm now self hosting oldsayings.info
(with a telnet front-end at port 42525). Kicking around some ideas, but
it's reliably staying up now with Starlink as the ISP. I got tired of
waiting for fiber - but the county workers are getting closer, I see them
running it ranch by ranch.
Cheers, wish could have made it to VCF West this year.
-Steve
There's an EAI Analog computer listed for auction on HiBid. Even has
some docs:
https://hibid.com/lot/317096364/analogue-computer-mod-185-240-eai180
It's in Australia and it's local pick up but for the right person in the
right place.....
As usual: No knowledge or relationship on my part.
Hello! Our office represents the family of a gentleman (Mr. Marsh) who passed away from mesothelioma, a cancer caused from breathing asbestos. Mr. Marsh spent his career working for a contractor that provided third-party installation and maintenance of DEC computer equipment at various customer locations. We are curious if any DEC equipment ever contained asbestos, possibly asbestos lined brakes, gaskets etc. I am wondering if anyone in this forum has personal knowledge or documentation of asbestos use in DEC equipment OR if any of you have a tape drive with a braking mechanism that we can test for asbestos content? I can be reached via email or on my cell phone (925) 639-8593 with your thoughts. Thank you for your time!
Regards,
Jennifer Manibusan
Legal Investigator
Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LLC
1900 Powell Street, Suite 200
Emeryville, CA 94608
(925) 639-8593 Cell
(314) 241-2003 Office
This communication may be attorney-client privileged or otherwise confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this message and notify the sender of this error.
Dear ClassicCmp community,
I am looking for a new home for a rather special piece of early German computer history:
An original ferrite core memory module from a Siemens DVA 2002, dating from approximately 1961.
The original accompanying label has survived with the module and identifies it as:
● Ferrite core memory from a DVA 2002
● Dating: circa 1961
● Memory capacity: 80 × 14 bits
● According to the contemporary description: approximately 840 characters
● The ferrite cores were threaded by hand
The module appears to be in very nice and largely original condition. The core matrices, wiring and contacts are clearly visible, and the historical documentation accompanying it has also survived.
The Siemens 2002 was one of the early transistorized computer systems produced in Germany and represents an important part of early Siemens computing history.
There is also a personal connection to Siemens in my family: my father, Hans Sessler, was the head of a Siemens data center. The module comes from this family context and our connection to computing technology of that era.
I am currently parting with a few special objects from my family collection for personal and financial reasons. However, with this particular piece, it is important to me that it goes to someone who understands and appreciates what it is – ideally a collector of early computers, a computer historian, a Siemens specialist, or simply a serious core-memory enthusiast.
Therefore, I am inviting serious offers rather than setting a fixed price at this stage.
I am located in Germany. International sale and carefully packed shipping can be discussed.
I would be happy to provide detailed high-resolution photographs of the front, back, core matrices, connectors, labels and accompanying documentation to anyone seriously interested.
I would also very much welcome any additional information from members who may be able to identify the exact configuration or historical context of this particular Siemens DVA 2002 memory module.
Please feel free to contact me directly with an offer or further information.
Best regards,
Julia
https://urnenwerk.com
(+49) 151 20 76 66 22
menden(a)urnenwerk.de
If anyone is coming in from the DC area for VCFMW and can pick up some
audio gear for me, please let me know. I'll be happy to compensate you for
it. Thanks, Paul
Starting with the Project GENIE system[1], the primary paper on the
software is by Butler Lampson[2], although he did it with Peter Deutsch,
then an undergraduate at Berkeley.
This system was picked up by Tymshare and almost completely rewritten
whilst maintaining compatibility. When it was connected to Tymnet[3], the
whole character handling section of the monitor (as an OS was sometimes
known) had to be rewritten. All of these changes were described in a IEEE
Annals on History of Computing paper[4].
For those desiring more specific information on the "subsystems", much of
it can be found on bitsavers: https://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/tymshare/
[1] The GENIE system is the correct historical name for this system.
[2] "Interactive Machine-language programming", B. Lampson, 1965 AFIPS conf.
[3] "TYMNET: a terminal oriented communication network", L. Tymes, 1971
AFIPS conf.
[4] "Tymshare's Changes to the Project Genie SDS-940 Operating System: A
Historical Review", M. Kahrs and A. Hardy, in *IEEE Annals of the History
of Computing* in July–September 2021
