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Peter Skye wrote:
>Zdenek Jizba wrote:
>
>
>>with the IBM 1401 we used wordmarks to delimit words
>>
>>
>
>You betcha. Remember ",008015,022029," . . . ? It was the first loader
>card ("," was "set wordmark"). And you could easily flummox the tape
>controller by coding a groupmark in the middle of a record before
>writing it to tape. The entire record would be written, but the
>controller wouldn't read past the groupmark. What fun it was to hack
>the hardware.
>
>See? I'm just as old as _you_ are!
>
>
>
One time Schlumberger came up for the first time with a dipmeter log
that was digital. The problem was that there were no end of records gaps
and the size of the file exceeded any storage capacity. I solved that
problem
by storing only the first N bytes, saving them on another tape. Then
rewinding
the original and writing a long (N-X) "word". Then I re-read the tape and by
matching the segments I was able to process the log. My management did
not like this because they could not stand loosing the expensive original.
>>Today your comments about bits, words and word boundaries
>>(I am not even sure anymore of the terminology) go over
>>the head of most computer users. Why learn programming
>>languages since most applications that one might want to
>>use are available as commercial software.
>>
>>
>
>I'll agree with you on this, Jizba. But what you, Lynn and I want to do
>is challenge the future. (Well, actually, I get a lot of satisfaction
>out of challenging Lynn.) So we write algorithms in our preferred
>language. Personally I write in English and I think in machine code,
>and thus I sit at both extremes of the bell shaped curve at the same
>time. This may explain why the world thinks I'm a very different duck
>indeed.
>
>
That is my problem too. I never got adjusted to the IBM 360 architecture.
so I think in terms of bytes (not words). And APL is non-procedural so
I do not have to worry about how the data is stored.
>>So when I hear about programming SIG, my attitude leans
>>toward having features where I tell the computer what I
>>want done, and I don't care how the computer works out
>>the process as long as I get the right answers. We are
>>a long way from that situation now but I pay attention
>>to any discussion aiming in that direction.
>>
>>
>
>Lynn wants the same and I applaud him for it. I look forward to the
>next SIG meeting.
>
>
Has anyone experienced Lisp and the lisp machines of circa 1985?
Back then I took a 2 week course in Lisp, but because of lack of
practice I forgot most of it.
Denny Jizba
>- Peter
>
>
>
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