Ted Spradley wrote:
The name "core" is a paleontological artifact from the days when
computer memories were made of tiny magnetic doughnuts which
were (for reasons unknown to me) called cores, and by extension
"core" became a single-syllable synonym for memory.
Well, now I'll date myself...
Several years ago, I worked on some equipment that still
had the magnetic doughnut memories. I can probably find the
historical reason for the "core" reference in my old manuals...
I think, it was because, once the memories were loaded, they would
remain stable unless specifically erased even if the machine lost
power. Sort of like the precursor to boot floppies or bios.
Of course, I also changed a 1K hard drive the size of a 21"
(tube) monitor with a copper coated ceramic disc - had to
reload the software from paper tapes and either mechanical
or optical tape reader. Lots of fun...
And let's not talk about the analog computer with tube controlled
electromechanical servo's for signal phase alignment.....
> I did basically what you indicated over the weekend.
I hope I don't sound condescending. It's hard to know from a few
emails
how much prior knowledge to assume.
No problem, I'll check my work via your process to rule out any errors...
Paul Sherman
Biomedical Engineer
VA Center for Engineering & Occupational Safety and Health
(CEOSH)
St. Louis, MO
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ted Spradley [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Monday, January 07, 2002 11:46 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: [Newbie]X stopped working...
>
>
> >
> > > I looked in root for all files; outside of "core",
> >
> > I bet that's a big one, and it's of no value to you. Remove it.
> >
> > Thanks for the info on "core". It is, by far, the largest file in the
> > root directory. It will disappear - any clue as to what it is?
>
> When a program crashes it (sometimes) leaves a copy of it's memory state
> in a file, for debugging. "file core" might tell you which program
> crashed. Some systems generate a name like netscape.core or
> enlightenment.core to provide a clue, and so that the first core file
> doesn't get clobbered when a second program crashes. The name "core" is
> a paleontological artifact from the days when computer memories were
> made of tiny magnetic doughnuts which were (for reasons unknown to me)
> called cores, and by extension "core" became a single-syllable synonym
> for memory.
>
> --
> Remember, more computing power was thrown away last week than existed in
> the world in 1982. -- http://www.tom.womack.net/computing/prices.html
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