On Tue, May 24, 2016 at 11:38 AM, Swift Griggs <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Since I'm an igmo about most machines before the mid-eighties (and still > fuzzy even on most of those), I'm curious about all these older machines > with front panel buttons and switches. What all did they do? You could > actually program them using the front panel right? Some of them > bootstrapped this way, too? What kind of "language" was used for that > (ie.. what were the basic mechanics)? Did the buttons ever change color? > Were you considered a badass if you had switch flipping all memorized down > to an art? Were they mainly multi-position toggle switches or on/off > buttons? > > They just seem to be a lot more important on older mainframes and minis. > Also, what was the main reason for the blinkenlights? Was it to show > system load or specific system states? > > Just curious. I'm learning a ton from reading these threads on older > machines, but there is so much I don't know. > > -Swift > > Here's a power point pres I did at VCF-E4, this will get you started. Using Altair 680b front panel in basic terms is covered a few slides in. http://vintagecomputer.net/vcf4/How_to_Session/ -- @ BillDeg: Web: vintagecomputer.net Twitter: @billdeg <https://twitter.com/billdeg> Youtube: @billdeg <https://www.youtube.com/user/billdeg> Unauthorized Bio <http://www.vintagecomputer.net/readme.cfm>
