Re: ee9 V2.0, the GNU Ada KDF9 emulator

Re: ee9 V2.0, the GNU Ada KDF9 emulator

[robin.vowels]

On Friday, November 6, 2015 at 2:11:52 PM UTC+11, Bill Findlay wrote:
> .. is now available for OSX, Windows, Linux 32 & 64 bit, and Raspberry Pi,
> at:
> 
> http://www.findlayw.plus.com/KDF9/#Emulator

The URL says :
"KDF9 was one of the first computers to support Algol 60, ..."

In fact, the implementors of the KDF9 Algol compiler
adapted that compiler to run on DEUCE, before the KDF9 was available,
in order to test the design.
(you might recall that the KDF9 was running late).

> Both GPL source code and system-specific binaries are provided,
> along with KDF9 sample programs and data, including the famous
> Whetstone benchmark.
> 
> This version is written in Ada 2005; I expect the next to be in Ada 2012.

Re: ee9 V2.0, the GNU Ada KDF9 emulator

[robin.vowels]

On Sunday, November 8, 2015 at 11:33:22 AM UTC+11, r.nospam@gmail.com wrote:
> On Friday, November 6, 2015 at 2:11:52 PM UTC+11, Bill Findlay wrote:
> > .. is now available for OSX, Windows, Linux 32 & 64 bit, and Raspberry Pi,
> > at:
> > 
> > http://www.findlayw.plus.com/KDF9/#Emulator
> 
> The URL says :
> "KDF9 was one of the first computers to support Algol 60, ..."
> 
> In fact, the implementors of the KDF9 Algol compiler
> adapted that compiler to run on DEUCE, before the KDF9 was available,
> in order to test the design.

A document about DEUCE Algol was published by Randall et al in February 1962.

Re: ee9 V2.0, the GNU Ada KDF9 emulator

[Bill Findlay]

<robin.vowels@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Friday, November 6, 2015 at 2:11:52 PM UTC+11, Bill Findlay wrote:
>> .. is now available for OSX, Windows, Linux 32 & 64 bit, and Raspberry Pi,
>> at:
>> 
>> http://www.findlayw.plus.com/KDF9/#Emulator
> 
> The URL says :
> "KDF9 was one of the first computers to support Algol 60, ..."
> 
> In fact, the implementors of the KDF9 Algol compiler
> adapted that compiler to run on DEUCE, before the KDF9 was available,
> in order to test the design.
> (you might recall that the KDF9 was running late).
> 

And you might recall what "one of" means.

The website at the URL also says: "[the KDF9 Algol project] engendered
Algol 60 implementations on many other computers, including the EE DEUCE,
the Ferranti Pegasus, the NPL ACE, the EE KDF6, the Soviet Minsk range, the
EE System 4/50, the IBM System 360/25, the Phillips PRS8000, the Elliott
903, and the Indian ECIL TDC-316."

-- 
Bill Findlay

Re: ee9 V2.0, the GNU Ada KDF9 emulator

[robin.vowels]

On Sunday, November 8, 2015 at 12:34:11 PM UTC+11, Bill Findlay wrote:
> <r.nospam@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Friday, November 6, 2015 at 2:11:52 PM UTC+11, Bill Findlay wrote:
> >> .. is now available for OSX, Windows, Linux 32 & 64 bit, and Raspberry Pi,
> >> at:
> >> 
> >> http://www.findlayw.plus.com/KDF9/#Emulator
> > 
> > The URL says :
> > "KDF9 was one of the first computers to support Algol 60, ..."
> > 
> > In fact, the implementors of the KDF9 Algol compiler
> > adapted that compiler to run on DEUCE, before the KDF9 was available,
> > in order to test the design.
> > (you might recall that the KDF9 was running late).

> And you might recall what "one of" means.
> 
> The website at the URL also says: "[the KDF9 Algol project] engendered
> Algol 60 implementations on many other computers, including the EE DEUCE,

DEUCE Algol PREceded KDF9 Algol, as I said.
The X1 Algol compiler (1961, if not earlier) preceded KDF9
[and upon which the KDF9 Algol was based].

And you might recall that "engendered" is the term used,
and does not list other Algol implementations.

> the Ferranti Pegasus, the NPL ACE, the EE KDF6, the Soviet Minsk range, the
> EE System 4/50, the IBM System 360/25, the Phillips PRS8000, the Elliott
> 903, and the Indian ECIL TDC-316."

Some of these post-date KDF9 Algol.
ACE - 1955
EE System 4/50 - 1966

Re: ee9 V2.0, the GNU Ada KDF9 emulator

[Bill Findlay]

<robin.vowels@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sunday, November 8, 2015 at 12:34:11 PM UTC+11, Bill Findlay wrote:
>> <r.nospam@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Friday, November 6, 2015 at 2:11:52 PM UTC+11, Bill Findlay wrote:
>>>> .. is now available for OSX, Windows, Linux 32 & 64 bit, and Raspberry Pi,
>>>> at:
>>>> 
>>>> http://www.findlayw.plus.com/KDF9/#Emulator
>>> 
>>> The URL says :
>>> "KDF9 was one of the first computers to support Algol 60, ..."
>>> 
>>> In fact, the implementors of the KDF9 Algol compiler
>>> adapted that compiler to run on DEUCE, before the KDF9 was available,
>>> in order to test the design.
>>> (you might recall that the KDF9 was running late).
> 
>> And you might recall what "one of" means.
>> 
>> The website at the URL also says: "[the KDF9 Algol project] engendered
>> Algol 60 implementations on many other computers, including the EE DEUCE,
> 
> DEUCE Algol PREceded KDF9 Algol, as I said.
> The X1 Algol compiler (1961, if not earlier) preceded KDF9
> [and upon which the KDF9 Algol was based].

I am fully aware of those facts and they do not contradict anything I have
said or implied.

> And you might recall that "engendered" is the term used,
> and does not list other Algol implementations.

?? then what are these:

>> the Ferranti Pegasus, the NPL ACE, the EE KDF6, the Soviet Minsk range, the
>> EE System 4/50, the IBM System 360/25, the Phillips PRS8000, the Elliott
>> 903, and the Indian ECIL TDC-316."
> 
> Some of these post-date KDF9 Algol.

You don't say!

> ACE - 1955

the NPL ACE did not exist in 1955. Perhaps you confuse it with the Pilot
ACE,
which did not have an Algol compiler.

You seem remarkably keen to pick a fight over something I did not say.

As it happens I have personal contact with Brian Randell, one of the
authors of DEUCE/KDF9 Algol and am well aware of its history.

Had you investigated my website instead of jumping to peevish conclusions, 
you would have found a DEUCE Algol document dated 1963, some months 
before the first KDF9 was delivered.

This is my last communication on the subject, as I refuse to stroke your
ego with any further attention. 

Anyone looking for accurate information on KDF9 Algol, approved by one of
its authors, can consult my website.

-- 
Bill Findlay

Re: ee9 V2.0, the GNU Ada KDF9 emulator

[robin.vowels]

On Sunday, November 8, 2015 at 1:52:32 PM UTC+11, Bill Findlay wrote:
> <r.nospam@gmail.com> wrote:
> > On Sunday, November 8, 2015 at 12:34:11 PM UTC+11, Bill Findlay wrote:
> >> <r.nospam@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>> On Friday, November 6, 2015 at 2:11:52 PM UTC+11, Bill Findlay wrote:
> >>>> .. is now available for OSX, Windows, Linux 32 & 64 bit, and Raspberry Pi,
> >>>> at:
> >>>> 
> >>>> http://www.findlayw.plus.com/KDF9/#Emulator
> >>> 
> >>> The URL says :
> >>> "KDF9 was one of the first computers to support Algol 60, ..."
> >>> 
> >>> In fact, the implementors of the KDF9 Algol compiler
> >>> adapted that compiler to run on DEUCE, before the KDF9 was available,
> >>> in order to test the design.
> >>> (you might recall that the KDF9 was running late).
> > 
> >> And you might recall what "one of" means.
> >> 
> >> The website at the URL also says: "[the KDF9 Algol project] engendered
> >> Algol 60 implementations on many other computers, including the EE DEUCE,

I know that, because I read it there.

> > DEUCE Algol PREceded KDF9 Algol, as I said.
> > The X1 Algol compiler (1961, if not earlier) preceded KDF9
> > [and upon which the KDF9 Algol was based].
> 
> I am fully aware of those facts and they do not contradict anything I have
> said or implied.

The X1 Algol compiler was available in 1960.

> > And you might recall that "engendered" is the term used,
> > and does not list other Algol implementations.
> 
> ?? then what are these:

Those are "engendered" translators.
I referred to compilers that were not inspired by KDF9 Algol,
and include, for example Elliott 803 Algol, produced early in 1962.

> >> the Ferranti Pegasus, the NPL ACE, the EE KDF6, the Soviet Minsk range, the
> >> EE System 4/50, the IBM System 360/25, the Phillips PRS8000, the Elliott
> >> 903, and the Indian ECIL TDC-316."
> > 
> > Some of these post-date KDF9 Algol.
> 
> You don't say!
> 
> > ACE - 1955
> 
> the NPL ACE did not exist in 1955.

Of course not.  I quoted the wrong date.

> Perhaps you confuse it with the Pilot ACE,
> which did not have an Algol compiler.

I know that.

> You seem remarkably keen to pick a fight over something I did not say.

I'm not picking a fight.  Sorry of that was the impression.

> As it happens I have personal contact with Brian Randell, one of the
> authors of DEUCE/KDF9 Algol and am well aware of its history.

I too have had contact with Brian Randell over, perhaps, a decade.
It was I who acquainted him with the fact that there was an ALGOL
compiler for DEUCE, as he said that he had forgotten that he had written it.
I provided him with published references to the DEUCE Algol compiler
being used for validating ALGOL programs.
 
> Had you investigated my website instead of jumping to peevish conclusions, 
> you would have found a DEUCE Algol document dated 1963, some months 
> before the first KDF9 was delivered.

In my earlier post (in this thread) I drew your attention to the DEUCE ALGOL
report published in February 1962.