E-Mails - 1401 Language Processors on Magnetic Tape

I also have two core dump routines (One from Ralph Reinke and one from Germany, both at Paul Pierce's web), an Autocoder distribution deck (from Dick Weaver), a machine-exercise demo (from HzG), two tape I/O packages I wrote in 1966-67, several application programs from Dick Weaver, and several programs (mostly "system" programs) from Florida State University (Rich Ragan gave a tape to Al Kossow, who lent it to Paul Pierce, who posted the contents), including two-tape Autocoder (by R. B. Rosenberger).

I've keyed in the source for Autocoder from the listing in the CE manual Dick Weaver lent me, together with eleven update letters and a custom modification by A. B. Platt that prints A- and B- address fields in decimal as well as machine form.

I assume we can turn these back into cards when the PC-to-1401 interface is operative. I also have the operational Autocoder tape that includes IOCS, Fortran v3m0, and Fortran v3m4 from Paul Pierce's web. I assume we can turn these back into tapes when the PC-to-1401 interface is operative.

I also have a listing for two-tape Autocoder from Paul Pierce's web, and a listing of a program by Ken Dritz to punch core into a self-loading deck.

I probably have programs not listed here. Someday I should do a systematic inventory of the 1401 software I have.

-- 
Van Snyder                    |  What fraction of Americans believe 
Van.Snyder@jpl.nasa.gov       |  Wrestling is real and NASA is fake?
Any alleged opinions are my own and have not been approved or
disapproved by JPL, CalTech, NASA, the President, or anybody else.

>> 
>> On 2/5/2009 8:15 PM, Van Snyder wrote: 
>> > On Thu, 2009-02-05 at 20:05 -0800, Bob Feretich wrote:
>> >   
>> > > Where could we find "Autocoder on tape"?  Ideally, we would like to
>> > > get access to a copy for next Thursday.
>> > >     
>> > 
>> > Here are two of them, in SimH format.
>> > 
>> > autocoder.weaver.mt1 was on a tape that Dick Weaver lent me.  It doesn't
>> > have IOCS.  In includes eleven update letters, plus a custom
>> > modification by A. B. Platt from Endicott that prints the A- and B-
>> > address fields of instructions (and maybe address constants, too) in
>> > decimal.
>> > 
>> > autocoder.IOCS.mt1 was on a "tape" I found at Paul Pierce's web site.
>> > It has IOCS, but wants to print a message on the 1407 at the end, urging
>> > the operator to change the 1410 compatibility switch to 1410 mode and
>> > push start; then it returns to the 1410 operating system.  What would
>> > the DE (or CT) system do with a write on %T0?  I don't know which or how
>> > many update letters have been applied.

> On Sat, 2009-02-07 at 23:57 -0800, Bob Feretich wrote:
>> I have examined both Autocoder Simh files that I received from Van. 
>> 
>> The Weaver file contains 11 records that are longer than 2000 bytes.
>> One of those records is longer than 3000 bytes (length=4221, the 2nd
>> longest is 2956 characters).
>> 
>> The IOCS file contains 32 records that are longer than 2000 bytes.
>> None of those records is longer than 3000 bytes (longest=2956).
>> 
>> Currently the PIC microcontroller in the 729 Emulator has a 2K tape
>> data buffer. Records from either tape will overflow the buffer. The
>> PIC only has a total 4096 bytes of RAM. Even if space for program
>> variables and the stack was reduced to zero,  the Emulator could not
>> handle a record bigger than 4K. 
>> 
>> If I reorganize the data layout in PIC RAM, I think I could increase
>> the tape buffer size to 3000 characters (not 3K).
>> 
>> So... Assuming I can successfully reorganize RAM contents to make a
>> 3000 character tape buffer....
>>       * I still couldn't use the Weaver tape, because of its >3000
>>         byte record.
>>         What needs to be done to cut that record in two? I think it is
>>         record 193 on the tape. (Counting end-of-file marks as
>>         records.)
>>       * I could try to execute the IOCS tape, but since we don't have
>>         a 1407 Console, I expect that it would hang.
>> Does anyone have recommendations on how to proceed?
>> 
>> Regards,
>> Bob Feretich

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Van Snyder" 
To: "Bob Feretich" 
Cc: ; "Allen Palmer" ; "Jeff Stutzman" ; <1401_software@computerhistory.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 12:07 PM
Subject: Re: [1401_software] Re: [1401_team] Re: Fwd: Museum classes on the1401
      (and your 729 Emulator platform)


>I just today noticed that I have more Autocoder "tapes," all from Paul
> Pierce's web site.  None of them have IOCS.  They're attached, in SimH
> format, with Paul's base file names.  I also have Cobol and Fortran IV,
> when you're ready.  I don't know which IBM update letters, if any, have
> been applied, or what custom modifications have been made.  I also found
> an IOCS tape (trailer label says "1401 IO-065).  I found these tapes at
> one of the following places:
> 
> http://www.piercefuller.com/oldibm-shadow/1401.html
> http://www.piercefuller.com/library/ibm1401.html
> 
> Van
> 

p.s.  I've also located and spoken with Ralph Mork, 90!  He's living  
in Wilmington, NC and is cc'd on this email (via Gary Paige).  He was  
just delighted that we're interested in his early history/stories.   
Ralph worked with the WWAM team and pulled together the 3-person  
design group in Endicott to explore using core memory for program  
store (instead of the WWAM's plugboard).

I've also located and spoken with Chuck Branscomb, 80!  He's living in  
Carey, NC and is cc'd on this email.   He was the overall 1401 program  
manager, responsible for  the overall program of getting the 1401  
designed and transferred to test & manufacturing, documentation, etc  
(all in record time).  Jim reported to Chuck.

Jonie Dayger managed the 1403, but is deceased.  Russ Rowley is also  
deceased.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Robert B Garner 
To: Van Snyder 
Cc: Ronald L Mak ; Ed Thelen ; rweaver@ix.netcom.com ; Robert Garner ; 
Robert B Garner ; BillWorthington@comcast.net 
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 4:20 PM
Subject: Re: Autocoders on Paul's site (was Re: [1401_software] Re: 
[1401_team] Re: Fwd: Museum classes on the 1401 (and your 729 Emulator platform)

Van, 
> I extracted the Cobol listing from adc00223 and converted it to PostScript. 
> Do you want that? 

Sure! 
Would it be OK if we posted it on our web site? 

Can you do same for the others (Fortran, Sort7, Autocoder, IOCS, etc)? 

If you're looking for IOCS, what is:  
     1401 IOCS 

- Robert


IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA
Office:  408-927-1739
Mobile: 408-679-0976
robgarn@us.ibm.com

Van Snyder  
02/19/2009 02:51 PM 
 To Robert B Garner/Almaden/IBM@IBMUS  
cc  
Subject Re: Autocoders on Paul's site (was Re: [1401_software] Re:       
 [1401_team] Re: Fwd: Museum classes on the 1401 (and your 729 Emulator platform) 


On Thu, 2009-02-19 at 13:45 -0800, Robert B Garner wrote:
> 
> Van, 
> 
> The Autocoder (and other) files on Paul's site:
>  http://www.piercefuller.com/library/ibm1401.html 
> are the ones that we had retrieved (and then mailed to Paul) from the
> 1401 recovery from Buzz's home in Darien, CT last May. 
> (per his July/08 email below.) 
> 
> I assume you converted them into simH format?  (Thanks!) 

Robert:

Probably was me.  Do you want the rest in SimH format?

I extracted the Cobol listing from adc00223 and converted it to
PostScript.  Do you want that?

Van

> - Robert
> 
> 
> IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, CA
> Office:  408-927-1739
> Mobile: 408-679-0976
> robgarn@us.ibm.com 
> 
> "Paul Pierce"  
> 
> 07/08/2008 06:29 PM 
> 
> 
>                To
> Robert B
> Garner/Almaden/IBM@IBMUS 
>                cc
> "Al Kossow"
> ,
> "Allen J Palmer"
> , akbay@computerhistory.org, 
"Bob Feretich" , 
bochannek@computerhistory.org, "Ed Thelen" ,
 grants2@pacbell.net, "Robert Garner" 
, "Stan Paddock" , 
sbelle4612@aol.com, "David Macklin"  
>           Subject
> "Re: reading 1401
> tapes"
> 
 
> 
> All,
> 
> Heres an update on the progress of reading Connecticut tapes.
> 
> I've spun all the red tapes and several other small tapes that look
> like system tapes. Most of the results are up on my web site, see the
> Whats New page in the Library or check out the 1401 page for
> everything there is:
> http://www.piercefuller.com/library/ibm1401.html
> 
> There were more Sort 7 tapes. One of them has a huge dropout, probably
> a wrinkle, on the track 0 side in the first record, which is most of
> the program. But its almost the same as the other one so I'm not
> inclined to fuss with it more unless there is some good reason.
> 
> One of the red tapes (E) labelled 1401CR02X which is a second copy of
> KWIC has a lot of little read errors. The parity track is weak most of
> the way through the good data. I'm still working on it. If it turns
> out to be identical to (I) I'll abandon it.
> 
> The tape "AUTOCODER Modified by OK DATA" has a bad stretched spot,
> fortunately long after the last written data. It made a noise on the
> tape cleaning machine, which stopped, and there was a stretched
> section there and a few turns later a 6-inch section where the oxide
> and binder came right off the tape (and slipped into a crack in my
> tape cleaner.) I don't know if the tape cleaner caused the stretch or
> if the stretch caused the tape cleaner to go wacko, but either way I
> think its a good argument for having a drive with a good tape cleaner
> itself instead of using a separate machine like I do.
> 
> Two tapes labelled "Autocoder 1/2" and "Autocoder 2/2" seem to be
> 9-track. I can try to fire up my 9-track setup if you want them read.
> 
> I'm thinking of photographing the remaining tapes, so you can make
> requests if you want any of them read.
> 
> Paul Pierce

An "original 1401 binary" that uses the card reader, tapes, and printer
(and the card punch if you want it to), and therefore is a reasonable
demo, is the Autocoder assembler.

The that tapes that I understand were part of the Connecticut computer
acquisition included operational Autocoder tapes.

A list of the tapes, and what I've determined to be on them, is
attached.  The list uses Paul Pierce's accession numbers.

I have SimH-format copies of them all, in case you want to access them
by way of the 729 emulator.

Van



adc00223_COBOL
  File 1 is an operational COBOL compiler.
  File 2 is a program that extracts a listing and a deck of Autocoder
    macros.
  File 4 is a LIB identification card.
  File 5 is a PID identification card.

adc00224-SORT7
  This is a distribution tape.  The first record of the first file is a
    program that prints a listing and punches an operational deck.
  File 2 is a LIB identification card.
  File 3 is a PID identification card.

adc00225-KWIC
  This is a distribution tape.
  File 1 is a program that prints, punches or copies other files.
  File 2 is an object deck and test decks.
  File 3 is a source deck.
  File 4 is a LIB identification card.
  File 5 is a PID identification card.

adc00226-AUTOCODER
  This is a distribution tape.
  File 1 is a program that prints the listing and/or punches the
    installation deck.
  File 2, up to ]]]]], is the listing; then the installation deck.
  File 3 is a LIB identification card.
  File 4 is a PID identification card.

adc00227-SE12x
  The first file of this tape is an operational program.  It appears that
  files 2-5 are a sample problem, a source deck, sample output, and a
  source listing.

adc00228-FI-04X
  This is a distribution tape.
  File 1 is an operational program.
  File 2 is a source deck.
  File 3 is a listing.
  File 4 is a LIB identification card.
  File 5 is a PID identification card.

adc00229-SE-12X
  This is a distribution tape.
  File 1 is an object deck that clears core down to 900.
  File 2 is an object deck that is preceded by some special cards
    that write some data on tape 6 in odd parity.  The remainder of
    the deck has PHS-1 in 76-80.
  File 3 is an object deck that has PHS-2 in 76-80.
  File 4 is an object deck that has PHS-3 in 76-80.
  Files 5-8 are source decks for files 1-4, except for the special
    cards that precede file 2.
  File 9 is a LIB identification card.
  File 10 is a PID identification card.

adc00231-SORT7
  This is a distribution tape.
  The first record of file 1 is a program that unblocks, prints, and
    punches the remainder of the first file, which is an assembly
    listing and source deck.
  File 2 is a LIB identification card.
  File 3 is a PID identification card.

adc00232-AUTOCODER
  This is an operational Autocoder tape with numerous macros.

adc00233-Fortran-IV-FO-052
  This is a distribution tape.  See pages 73-77 of C24-3322-2.
  File 1 is the distribution.
  File 2 is a LIB identification card.
  File 3 is a PID identification card.

adc00234-MERGE7.dmp 
  This is a distribition tape.
  The first record of file 1 is a progam that unblocks, prints, and
    punches the remainder of the first file, which is an assembly
    listing and source deck.
  File 2 is a LIB identification card.
  File 3 is a PID identification card.

adc00236-SORT7
  This is an operational tape.  The first two records are a program
    that is used to create, update or copy the remainder of the tape.
  File 1 is the operational program.
  File 2 is a copy of the last 17 records from file 1.  It looks like
    the tape was re-written with a shorter program after having been
    written with a longer program.
  The tape is slightly corrupted, in that the first two records actually
    should be a single record.

adc00237-IOCS
  This is a distribution tape.
  The first record is a program that unblocks, prints, and punches
    the remainder of the first file.
  File 1 is the distribution.
  File 2 is a PID identification card.

adc00238-DFTS
  This is an operational diagnostics tape.

adc00239-AUTOCODER+macros
  This is an operational Autocoder tape with numerous macros.

adc00240-CLUB_PROG
  This appears to be an operational tape for an application program
    for the Innis Arden Golf Club.

adc00244-AUTOCODER-mod_by_OK_data
  This is an operational Autocoder tape with numerous macros.

adc00249-SORT7 appears to be a corrupt copy of adc00236-SORT7

adc00250-Fortran-IV-FO-052
  This is an operational Fortran IV compiler tape.

I wrote a program that splits long tape records, and another one that recombines them. The one that splits writes the one that recombines on the tape first. So you can boot from the tape with the split records, and it writes a tape with original-length records.

The intent was that you would split records in SimH, then boot the split-record tape through the emulator, and write a real tape with original-length records. Then you could boot from the real tape. I tried this out, but on that day the TAU and real tape drives didn't cooperate.

> Is it practical to rectify the limitation?
> Port to a machine with more memory ??

I was recently given five Rabbit computers. They're about the size of two postage stamps. They have prototyping boards about the size of a postcard, including ethernet. The guy who gave them to me says there is an excellent software-development environment to program them in C, including complete network stacks. I don't know whether they have adequate I/O. Maybe some of the parallel stuff that's done in the emulator could be converted to serial with shift registers and jam-transfer buffers. The Rabbit is plenty fast to handle that. I can send one to Bob, along with a copy of the software development CD, if he's interested.

The guy who gave them to me is enthusiastic about XMOS computers, which have much more I/O capability than Rabbits. IIRC, XMOS was offering development kits for about $49. Maybe they still are. XMOS also offers excellent software development support. I can ask about them, if Bob is interested.

Van