Incredibly shrinking computer.
Computers are getting smaller and smaller. We use them to solve problems, but you still have to give them instructions to do what you want. Computer languages are a way to give the computer the instructions you want it to use. The first computer I ever used was at college. Then they did not even have a computer major. Mostly you majored in math. The first computer was large and bulky. We used punch cards to get computer code into the machine. In fact, we used a language call Fortran (Formula translation) which was the forerunner of a more recent language called Basic (Beginner's all purpose instruction code). Fortran is still actually around and you can still use it. On Linux it is sometimes called gfortran. Basic has evolved into so many variations that are too many to mention though you may have heard of VB.net. Personally I prefer Quickbasic variations for my non-gui systems.
The next computer I used in the Professional world was the Datapoint Terminal in the days of Arcnet networking. After studying Cobol and RpgII in going back to school years later earned a job working as a maintenance programmer using Databus (now called PL/B) and using RpgII (now RpgIV). Learning Databus was almost like being in a foreign county. But picked it up quickly. Thank god no more punch cards. You could work at a terminal. The first decrease in size. I had an old Datapoint 8200 computer to work on like this one:
To use a computer, you really had to work for a company. Then the microcomputers started to come out such as the Commodore 64. You could use a tv as a terminal screen, which really cut down on the costs. I remember working in a computer store as a consultant and I did programs for people. Even had to write a few programs for myself to solve problems of moving client files from one computer to another. Each system had it's own format. Now a days we do not even have to think about moving data from one system to another with the internet. The first real computer I bought was a Commodore 64. One of the great pleasures was learning 6510 assembly language programming in person from the late great Jim Butterfield. Forgotten most of it now. Getting sort of getting smaller again.
Back to a little bit bigger, I used a personal computer from IBM and various computer manufacturers such as Dell. At that time I was teaching computing more than programming, though I did enjoy teaching budding programmers about the introduction to computing and programmer logic. Eventually I worked in computer support for a college. We used thousands of computers of various architectures and operating systems. Even became heavy into networking. You always were learning something new. From Novell, Microsoft, Apple, and then eventually Linux. Computers are more powerful but smaller.
Now things are going to take a turn for the smaller. The computers we have looked at so far were generally called complex instruction set computers. In the need to get smaller, reduced instruction set computers (aka risc) have come out to supplement the more powerful machines. Some of the Arm processors or the computer brains have become very popular. In fact, I had what was known as a Cisco Linksys Nslu2 that was used as a popular NAS (network addressed storage) device. Since it had a real cpu (risc), someone came up with a way to install the Debian linux operating system on it. My brother dared me to install it. Yep did it. Eventually wrote a program or two in C (made famous by Kernigan and Ritchie). Was able to use it as a web, music, file and etc server. It was worth it's weight in gold. Though it seems pretty small you have not seen anything yet.
The only short coming to the Nslu2 was it did not have a terminal to type into so you had to access it remotely. You can purchase net tops that use the Risc cpu structure with the terminal attached. Just a little history to whet your appetite. Like I said, we have not seen anything yet. Now you have the tablets and smart phones. Dick Tracy watch here we come.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simple survey of computer languages:
http://computothought.wordpress.com/2010/04/06/freedom-of-assembly/
The next computer I used in the Professional world was the Datapoint Terminal in the days of Arcnet networking. After studying Cobol and RpgII in going back to school years later earned a job working as a maintenance programmer using Databus (now called PL/B) and using RpgII (now RpgIV). Learning Databus was almost like being in a foreign county. But picked it up quickly. Thank god no more punch cards. You could work at a terminal. The first decrease in size. I had an old Datapoint 8200 computer to work on like this one:
To use a computer, you really had to work for a company. Then the microcomputers started to come out such as the Commodore 64. You could use a tv as a terminal screen, which really cut down on the costs. I remember working in a computer store as a consultant and I did programs for people. Even had to write a few programs for myself to solve problems of moving client files from one computer to another. Each system had it's own format. Now a days we do not even have to think about moving data from one system to another with the internet. The first real computer I bought was a Commodore 64. One of the great pleasures was learning 6510 assembly language programming in person from the late great Jim Butterfield. Forgotten most of it now. Getting sort of getting smaller again.
Back to a little bit bigger, I used a personal computer from IBM and various computer manufacturers such as Dell. At that time I was teaching computing more than programming, though I did enjoy teaching budding programmers about the introduction to computing and programmer logic. Eventually I worked in computer support for a college. We used thousands of computers of various architectures and operating systems. Even became heavy into networking. You always were learning something new. From Novell, Microsoft, Apple, and then eventually Linux. Computers are more powerful but smaller.
The only short coming to the Nslu2 was it did not have a terminal to type into so you had to access it remotely. You can purchase net tops that use the Risc cpu structure with the terminal attached. Just a little history to whet your appetite. Like I said, we have not seen anything yet. Now you have the tablets and smart phones. Dick Tracy watch here we come.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Simple survey of computer languages:
http://computothought.wordpress.com/2010/04/06/freedom-of-assembly/
Comments
Post a Comment