From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 To: 9fans@cse.psu.edu Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:33:18 +0000 From: Bill Gunshannon Message-ID: <62lp1mF237d23U1@mid.individual.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii References: <13426df10802262252m6c6b14dld63c24aeaf89926f@mail.gmail.com> Subject: Re: [9fans] Non-stack-based calling conventions Topicbox-Message-UUID: 6703cdbe-ead3-11e9-9d60-3106f5b1d025 In article <2ca539b9873bc2cd75592dc3b1e40eb8@proxima.alt.za>, lucio@proxima.alt.za writes: >> That would be fun, but you'd have to find Exec 8, right? > > Well, I suppose, if only because the EXEC subset of the assembler > language was so unfamiliar :-) > > But the head of computing at the University of Cape Town used to be an > international expert on Exec 8, so he may still have a copy. > > Now that you remind me, "load function in channel" never really meant > a thing to me, so I think I'll skip being clever. > > Oh, as for the drum, at UCT we had frequency fluctuations in the > mains, causing the synchronous motors of the drum to speed up and slow > down, causing parity errors. Given that the exec code lived on drum, > swapping it in under such conditions caused lock ups. Took many > months to pin it down to supply problems. Exec8, drum, sounds like you are talking about a Univac-1100 (I came in late, sorry). I worked with one of those back in the 80's. We had a motor-generator between the mains and the computer that took care of keeping what the computer saw flat and smooth. I always thought that was a standard Univac installation. Hey, while I have your attention. I am looking for something from those days that we ran on the Univac at that sight and UCT being an edu may have also had it. Ever heard of The Software Tools Virtual Operating System? Any chance you have a 9-track with this on it still hanging around? I would love to get my hands on a copy again. bill -- Bill Gunshannon | de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n. Three wolves billg999@cs.scranton.edu | and a sheep voting on what's for dinner. University of Scranton | Scranton, Pennsylvania | #include