Paper tape format

From: allisonp_at_world.std.com <(allisonp_at_world.std.com)>
Date: Fri May 26 07:53:55 2000

> >The reason why I'm asking is because I'm toying with adding a virtual paper
> >tape punch/reader to Claus Guiloi's IMSAI emulator.
>
> Well... for my $0.225 worth (inflation you know)...
>
> I doubt that there is a real answer for that one, unless you select a
> particular operating 'model' for focus on.
>
> By that I mean, that since neither the Altair or IMSAI had a resident
> monitor program or 'native' operating system at first, there were no hard
> and fast rules as to what/how you would load code...

Well, since they had no rom that is correct however... Both had pre-CP/M
"monitors" Mits programming system for example. That loaded as something
like intel hex and the editor/assmbler was ascii/intel hex/bin IO as
desired.

My experience is (I used tty for years and also had a remex HS
reader/punch) Intel hex was the standard for portable binaries
in the 8080/z80 world. Non portable binaries were always tied
to a specific vendor loader but hex was most common.

I'd say in the early years P-tape was in the 75-79 timeframe the
most portable format compared to floppies or worse yet cassette
tape.

I still have a punch of intel hex of the cpm image from my first
platform I'd put CPM on after ALTAIR/NS*MDS-A hybrid.

Allison
Received on Fri May 26 2000 - 07:53:55 BST