"Software" Before Stored Program Computers
| We are so used to the idea of being able to convert a computer from a web browser to a spread sheet processor to an internet movie viewer to a .... at the touch of a mouse loading in a different program that it is hard it imagine more primative days when you had to turn off the machine, remove one plug board (program) and insert a different plug board (program) and start the machine again. |
However, not all is progress. We did not get into the operating system wars, could not blame Bill Gates for all unexpected errors, did not argue the relative advantages/disadvantages of C, C++, C#, Java, Lua, COBOL, Fortran, Perl, BASIC, ADA, Pascal, Java, and hundreds of other computer "languages". Think of the time and emotion saving of "the good old days". ;-))
Here are "coding sheets" for some plug board machines ;-))
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Here are work sheets for the 513 and 517 reproducing and summary punches.
courtesy LaFarr Stuart |
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This is a work sheet for an IBM 405 Accounting Machine, a close relative of an IBM 402
shown here
courtesy LaFarr Stuart |
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