From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on inbox.vuxu.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-0.8 required=5.0 tests=DKIM_ADSP_CUSTOM_MED, DKIM_INVALID,DKIM_SIGNED,FREEMAIL_FROM,HTML_MESSAGE,MAILING_LIST_MULTI, RCVD_IN_DNSWL_NONE autolearn=ham autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 Received: (qmail 12273 invoked from network); 13 Aug 2020 20:54:14 -0000 Received: from minnie.tuhs.org (45.79.103.53) by inbox.vuxu.org with ESMTPUTF8; 13 Aug 2020 20:54:14 -0000 Received: by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix, from userid 112) id A62C79DF58; Fri, 14 Aug 2020 06:54:12 +1000 (AEST) Received: from minnie.tuhs.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 3209F9CAAE; Fri, 14 Aug 2020 06:53:33 +1000 (AEST) Authentication-Results: minnie.tuhs.org; dkim=fail reason="signature verification failed" (2048-bit key; unprotected) header.d=gmail.com header.i=@gmail.com header.b="a4sgHRwc"; dkim-atps=neutral Received: by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix, from userid 112) id 173FC9CAAE; Fri, 14 Aug 2020 06:53:01 +1000 (AEST) Received: from mail-qv1-f44.google.com (mail-qv1-f44.google.com [209.85.219.44]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 77CE193D06 for ; Fri, 14 Aug 2020 06:53:00 +1000 (AEST) Received: by mail-qv1-f44.google.com with SMTP id x7so3314101qvi.5 for ; Thu, 13 Aug 2020 13:53:00 -0700 (PDT) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=20161025; h=mime-version:references:in-reply-to:from:date:message-id:subject:to :cc; bh=o6q8YHjZ0kyYsR8fFfce/1jHp2SBqSWk5gNTVF8eXTo=; b=a4sgHRwctB5n20E1HprqAFnCZTnFiRCuHESdgC+DwgqjrGtTXHUGeJaovtf4DIZc0v WfY1CIF39p4TzwhufaLm6n8jYfIGQFgjlgM/2nlNakcitWw0mmImb68CXMdI/wWiDsq2 WN+fmuXjIO0XHa3tWgRuPL+NimzR0sfh891c8gQBa/XvQnKfzb8ur6F4CDhxCilRBVx2 H+Fx5XqR6sC6apq5EMPWVdBQLzX5icY2BvCKrTSMj4A9ELcUWiveL2CTPdXj+PbDJU2Z yf1RfiRsdVbq4eZDt8dd8YE3EdDwYr6xMs7vEZvm4WATFFRZ/O+OQnzP68JHyObhUkgM W1ZA== X-Google-DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=1e100.net; s=20161025; h=x-gm-message-state:mime-version:references:in-reply-to:from:date :message-id:subject:to:cc; bh=o6q8YHjZ0kyYsR8fFfce/1jHp2SBqSWk5gNTVF8eXTo=; b=Cz+yVuLWUrujt8vRy5YDD1/SYQMgMXqa+mPFJYU89suLRHjVLSytcnL+/F6LZ/D1H0 90X/8kjOuIAUeaPepy83+A2Kpjs80RtG82z6/PCjdDwSTxVRcyfYjrTXD+wI8wCDq5pr vFpi1vKl7IiQeU/qZEc2X226ydPca4ewEAIuoivs5UN6bb3t31Rg2g4CDuH57Ua3Jj45 bPp+DCKJVGsVnglFImyndZ+pbwwuoGfPn0U2Ru4fiZOfB+e6SDjeDHryBDuxVx8rDVj6 vlteYwP6A5+18NRglcmWB0Cyd46vqreaCvanK+f6jxsXWDsKQfXp6yBHxA1Mjh2aJYG6 zoJw== X-Gm-Message-State: AOAM533zpaKJ6hlA385Z0HAdNDfN/ytMAfiueWfwcm+zIB0GP9MbfpME yFCd7/PQOnDU1DVx/G5pJ1ASYVoORLGqGT9jrLE= X-Google-Smtp-Source: ABdhPJwd/RgxvoZTuCmakqJlJQaVo8O1XQDoRqXtI+PjGmJq1B1NjMeNwdpFd9GT9D8x4kk3olV3tuNzCWqlPt9q2JQ= X-Received: by 2002:a0c:eed1:: with SMTP id h17mr6223562qvs.96.1597351979577; Thu, 13 Aug 2020 13:52:59 -0700 (PDT) MIME-Version: 1.0 References: <8e7efd45-a84e-cf20-9d30-8222357596a3@tnetconsulting.net> <202007200847.06K8l8DF026646@freefriends.org> <20200720094648.GE15253@ancienthardware.org> <20200801013605.GG10778@mcvoy.com> In-Reply-To: From: Dan Cross Date: Thu, 13 Aug 2020 16:52:23 -0400 Message-ID: To: John Cowan Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="00000000000052f85005acc87d0b" Subject: Re: [TUHS] A/UX [was Linux is on-topic] X-BeenThere: tuhs@minnie.tuhs.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.26 Precedence: list List-Id: The Unix Heritage Society mailing list List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Cc: The Eunuchs Hysterical Society Errors-To: tuhs-bounces@minnie.tuhs.org Sender: "TUHS" --00000000000052f85005acc87d0b Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" On Thu, Aug 13, 2020 at 4:04 PM John Cowan wrote: > On Thu, Aug 13, 2020 at 1:19 PM Henry Bent wrote: > >> so this damn teeny tiny display would cycle through a sequence of codes >>> that told you what the machine was doing; it came with a book that told you >>> what each code meant. Something like "387" meant mounting /usr. Ugh; I just >>> found a page on ibm.com describing these "IPL codes." >>> >> > IPL = Initial Program Load = boot(strap), by the way. It also has the > connotations of "toggle in". > Also, "IPL CMS" under VM! But this reminded me: Does anyone remember a system of any sort where there > were *two* corresponding sets of alphanumeric error codes, one short and > meaningless like F32 and the other somewhat meaningful like POWER_LOW? I > made up this example, but I have a feeling I saw or read about such > a system. I can't pin it down with Dr. Google. > It wouldn't surprise me if a DEC system had something similar involving random integers and more meaningful error strings. Maybe something like RSTS/E or RSX? I already know about plenty of systems that have *numbers* and alphabetics, > like , or just alphabetics and a (localizable) text explanation, > like VMS, or just a number and a text explanation, like the BIOS errors. > A nifty thing about VMS is that one can type 'help/message' to get contextual help on the last error message: $ dir foo %DIRECT-W-NOFILES, no files found $ help/message FNF, file not found Facility: RMS, OpenVMS Record Management Services Explanation: The specified file does not exist. User Action: Check the file specification and verify that the device, directory, file name, and file type are all specified correctly. If a logical name is specified, verify the current equivalence assigned to the logical name. If the equivalence is correct, verify that the correct volume is mounted on the specified device and that the file was not inadvertently deleted. $ Such number-only error systems are still very common in things like "smart" > washing machines, where the cost and unreliability of a non-tiny screen > simply isn't acceptable. > My smoke detector beeps three times quickly when it wants a new battery. Yay. - Dan C. --00000000000052f85005acc87d0b Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
On Thu,= Aug 13, 2020 at 4:04 PM John Cowan <c= owan@ccil.org> wrote:
On Thu, Aug 13, 2020 at 1:19 PM = Henry Bent <= henry.r.bent@gmail.com> wrote:
so this damn teeny tiny display would cycle through a sequence o= f codes that told you what the machine was doing; it came with a book that = told you what each code meant. Something like "387" meant mountin= g /usr. Ugh; I just found a page on ibm.com describing these "IPL codes."
=

IPL =3D Initial P= rogram Load =3D boot(strap), by the way.=C2=A0 It also has the connotations= of "toggle in".

Also, "IPL CMS" under VM!

But this reminded me: Does anyone remember a system of any sort wher= e there were *two* corresponding sets of alphanumeric error codes, one shor= t and meaningless like F32 and the other somewhat meaningful like POWER_LOW= ?=C2=A0 I made up this example, but I have a feeling I saw or read about su= ch a=C2=A0system.=C2=A0 I can't pin it down with Dr. Google.

It wouldn't surprise me if a DE= C system had something similar involving random integers and more meaningfu= l error strings.=C2=A0 Maybe something like RSTS/E or RSX?

I already know about plenty of systems that hav= e *numbers* and alphabetics, like <errno.h>, or just alphabetics and = a (localizable) text explanation, like VMS, or just a number and a text exp= lanation, like the BIOS errors.

A nifty thing about VMS is that one can type 'help/message' = to get contextual help on the last error message:

=
$ dir foo
%DIRECT-W-NOFILES, no files found
$ help= /message

=C2=A0FNF,=C2=A0 file not found

=C2=A0 Facility:=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0RMS, OpenVMS Record Man= agement Services

=C2=A0 Explanation:=C2=A0 The spe= cified file does not exist.

=C2=A0 User Action:=C2= =A0 Check the file specification and verify that the device,
=C2= =A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 directory, file name, = and file type are all specified
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2= =A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 correctly. If a logical name is specified, verify = the current
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2= =A0 equivalence assigned to the logical name. If the equivalence
= =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 is correct, verify = that the correct volume is mounted on
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0= =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 the specified device and that the file was not= inadvertently
=C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 = =C2=A0 deleted.

$=C2=A0

=
Such number-only error systems are still very commo= n in things like "smart" washing machines, where the cost and unr= eliability of a non-tiny screen simply isn't acceptable.

My smoke detector beeps three times qui= ckly when it wants a new battery. Yay.

=C2=A0 =C2= =A0 =C2=A0 =C2=A0 - Dan C.
=C2=A0
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