On Thu, 2016-02-18 at 03:17 +0100, Dr.-Ing. Edgar Alwers wrote:
> On Wednesday 17 February 2016 17:08:23 Bruce Dubbs wrote:
> > Paul Rogers wrote:
> > > * I feel so fortunate to have discovered LFS over a decade ago!  Having
> > > 
> > >    taught myself to program in college on an early 2nd generation (mini)
> > >    computer, IBM 1620, ...
> > 
> > Yes, but did you learn how to code in machine language and punch binary
> > cards?  Or did you wimp out and load that deck that was labelled 'Fortran
> > Compiler'.
> > 
> You made me feel really old ! What's that a modern machine, the IBM 1620 !
> 
> I started with an IBM 650, 2000 bytes, pure machine code, e.g. "AU Add to 
> upper accumulator".The Bell-System allowed to make a two address machine out 
> of the 650, but reduced the capacity to 1000 bytes. I do not know, how many 
> cards I punched at that time ;-). The fortran compiler was much later !
> 
> I remember, as I started with the 650, the people in the computer center of 
> my 
> university where sharp looking for potential clients, especially on technical 
> projects. You didnt need to pay for computer time at that time ! 
> 
> Yes, I became older !
> Edgar
> 
> -- 
> Dr.-Ing. Edgar Alwers <[email protected]>
> GPG Key ID:AD5C6F70

Only because it was mentioned...

IBM 1620 was my first computer and Fortran and SPS were my first
assembly languages. My college also had an DEC PDP-9 which we programmed
in its assembly language through a KSR teletype. As an EE student I
worked on building a 7 track tape drive for the beast as well as writing
part of the device driver. Later in my career (circum 1978), I worked
with General Automation computers (a.k.a the "naked mini") and once
applied a patch to the software by using its console switches.

All of which makes me old school I guess. I did spend years in OS
development on what was originally a mini-computer but eventually became
viewed as a mainframe and once figured out that I know or have
programmed in about 20 different languages. 

I only build (B)LFS systems for my own use and as a debugging platform
for other development. I truly appreciate that the steps are so
carefully laid out and that it allows for a maximum of customization to
the task. And having led large projects, I appreciate the thought that
goes into keeping it simple.

Thanks guys

Pat



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