21 Jun
2026
21 Jun
'26
11:20 a.m.
As a fan of BCPL (from the Alto), I only wish it was better documented.
For example, Tripos has next to no documentation on it including how to
compile and load it. Documentation on the runtimes is also lacking (and
that's where the rubber meets the road).
Unfortunately, the Alto changes were not picked up so it remains an
isolated branch (and *dead* by the definitions put forward).
22 Jun
22 Jun
2:20 p.m.
New subject: What constitutes a dead computer language
This conversation has been fascinating - I'm tempted to collect all of the emails on
this topic and run them thru an AI for a summary - anyone object or have a better idea?
Tom
4:29 p.m.
New subject: What constitutes a dead computer language
No complaints here. I've been using chatgpt to help me port an LMI 68K
industrial forth to Mac plus ROM space I wrote in 1990.
On Mon, Jun 22, 2026 at 2:20 PM Tom Gardner via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
This conversation has been fascinating - I'm tempted to collect all of the emails on
this topic and run them thru an AI for a summary - anyone object or have a better idea?
Tom
7:09 p.m.
New subject: What constitutes a dead computer language
Tom Gardner via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> writes:
This conversation has been fascinating - I'm
tempted to collect all of
the emails on this topic and run them thru an AI for a summary -
anyone object or have a better idea?
Yeah. I object. Don't do that.
--
Rich Alderson cc(a)alderson.users.panix.com
Audendum est, et veritas investiganda; quam etiamsi non assequamur,
omnino tamen proprius, quam nunc sumus, ad eam perveniemus.
--Galen
7:58 p.m.
New subject: What constitutes a dead computer language
What? Are you chicken McFly? AI is useful as a gopher and another set
of not to be trusted eyes.
On Mon, Jun 22, 2026 at 7:10 PM Rich Alderson via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
Tom Gardner via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> writes:
This conversation has been fascinating - I'm
tempted to collect all of
the emails on this topic and run them thru an AI for a summary -
anyone object or have a better idea?
Yeah. I object. Don't do that.
--
Rich Alderson cc(a)alderson.users.panix.com
Audendum est, et veritas investiganda; quam etiamsi non assequamur,
omnino tamen proprius, quam nunc sumus, ad eam perveniemus.
--Galen 
23 Jun
23 Jun
6:33 a.m.
New subject: What constitutes a dead computer language
It doesn't really matter. The question was asked (which is appreciated) and Rich gave
his answer. I see no reason to ask him to defend how he chooses to dispose of his
property.
paul
On Jun 22, 2026, at 10:58 PM, Jim Davis via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
What? Are you chicken McFly? AI is useful as a gopher and another set
of not to be trusted eyes.
On Mon, Jun 22, 2026 at 7:10 PM Rich Alderson via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
> Tom Gardner via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> writes:
>
>> This conversation has been fascinating - I'm tempted to collect all of
>> the emails on this topic and run them thru an AI for a summary -
>> anyone object or have a better idea?
>
> Yeah. I object. Don't do that.
>
> --
> Rich Alderson cc(a)alderson.users.panix.com
> Audendum est, et veritas investiganda; quam etiamsi non assequamur,
> omnino tamen proprius, quam nunc sumus, ad eam perveniemus.
> --Galen
6:04 p.m.
New subject: What constitutes a dead computer language
On 6/23/2026 9:33 AM, Paul Koning via cctalk wrote:
It doesn't really matter. The question was asked
(which is appreciated) and Rich gave his answer. I see no reason to ask him to defend how
he chooses to dispose of his property.
I would also object. If my input is to be used to feed some corporations
AI for profit operation I would likely leave the list.
bill
paul
On Jun 22, 2026, at 10:58 PM, Jim Davis via
cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
What? Are you chicken McFly? AI is useful as a gopher and another set
of not to be trusted eyes.
On Mon, Jun 22, 2026 at 7:10 PM Rich Alderson via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
> Tom Gardner via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> writes:
>
>> This conversation has been fascinating - I'm tempted to collect all of
>> the emails on this topic and run them thru an AI for a summary -
>> anyone object or have a better idea?
>
> Yeah. I object. Don't do that.
>
> --
> Rich Alderson cc(a)alderson.users.panix.com
> Audendum est, et veritas investiganda; quam etiamsi non assequamur,
> omnino tamen proprius, quam nunc sumus, ad eam perveniemus.
> --Galen
6:26 p.m.
New subject: What constitutes a dead computer language
Sorry, I was replying to the notion of feeding the "What constitutes a
dead computer language" into an AI for a summary. Looks like I crossed
the wires.
On Tue, Jun 23, 2026 at 6:04 PM Bill Gunshannon via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
On 6/23/2026 9:33 AM, Paul Koning via cctalk wrote:
It doesn't really matter. The question was
asked (which is appreciated) and Rich gave his answer. I see no reason to ask him to
defend how he chooses to dispose of his property.
I would also object. If my input is to be used to feed some corporations
AI for profit operation I would likely leave the list.
bill
>
> paul
>
>> On Jun 22, 2026, at 10:58 PM, Jim Davis via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org>
wrote:
>>
>> What? Are you chicken McFly? AI is useful as a gopher and another set
>> of not to be trusted eyes.
>>
>> On Mon, Jun 22, 2026 at 7:10 PM Rich Alderson via cctalk
>> <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Tom Gardner via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> writes:
>>>
>>>> This conversation has been fascinating - I'm tempted to collect all
of
>>>> the emails on this topic and run them thru an AI for a summary -
>>>> anyone object or have a better idea?
>>>
>>> Yeah. I object. Don't do that.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Rich Alderson
cc(a)alderson.users.panix.com
>>> Audendum est, et veritas investiganda; quam etiamsi non assequamur,
>>> omnino tamen proprius, quam nunc sumus, ad eam perveniemus.
>>>
--Galen
> 
8:18 p.m.
New subject: What constitutes a dead computer language
On Tue, Jun 23, 2026 at 9:04 PM Bill Gunshannon via cctalk <
cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
I would also object. If my input is to be used to feed some corporations
AI for profit operation I would likely leave the list.
Hate to be the bearer of ill tidings, Bill...but the fact this mailing list
is publicly archived means it's already fodder for AI training. And no,
making the archives private isn't a 100% way to prevent this; agent-based,
automated mailing list signups are trivial.
New normal and all that.
KJ
18
days inactive
21
days old
8 comments
7 participants
participants (7)
-
Bill Gunshannon -
Jim Davis -
Ken Seefried -
Mark Kahrs -
Paul Koning -
Rich Alderson -
Tom Gardner