EDSAC celebration?

From: D. Peschel <dpeschel_at_u.washington.edu>
Date: Fri Oct 23 16:25:51 1998

This question has been rattling around in my head for some time. Perhaps
one of the UK people has the answer.

I enjoyed the Manchester Mark I recreation. I saw the programming contest,
thought about writing something really fantastic (a small computer language,
whatever), looked closer at the architecture of the machine, and changed my
mind. It's pretty limited. I was *quite* impressed by the noodle-timer
program that won the contest, though.

But I always liked the EDSAC much more than the Manchester Mark I (baby or
full version). It has a very elegant design and you can get actual work done
with it. (Because the Mark I ran a stored program first but was in proto-
type stage, I see the EDSAC as the first working modern stored-prgoram
computer, followed soon after by the finished Mark I.) And the Initial
Orders are STILL one of the most ingenious programs ever.

Except I haven't heard anything about an EDSAC recreation, and the 50th
anniversary date is coming up! (Is it June 6 1999 or some time in May?)
And M. V. Wilkes has remained active in the field, so he might be inclined
to do something like this. Is anything planned?

If nothing ends up happening, I intend to get an autographed copy of the
Wilkes/Wheeler/Gill book.

P.S. IMO history shows that British computer designs are often MUCH more
sensible than their American contemporaries. They treat the computer as a
tool to be used rather than a hunk of hardware with software slapped on later.
Too bad history shows that British computer *sales* are LESS successful than
their American counterparts.

-- Derek
Received on Fri Oct 23 1998 - 16:25:51 BST