oldskool

[perlmonger]

I’ve just had reason to hack some C, for the first time in $UNFEASIBLE_PERIOD. It’s a sign of something (mental decay, probably) that I had to look up a standard function definition; that I used a copy of K&R, first edition, as a reference is probably a sign of something else entirely.

I think I’ll dig out my Algol68R reference now, before Nurse brings the tea and pills round.

Comments

[evilmattikinz.livejournal.com]

There is nothing wrong with K&R first edition. You should be proud. I was loaned a copy by the chap who taught me to program, when I realised some years ago that I still had it, I made efforts to find him and return it along with my thanks, but he had since passed away. In the spirit of delivering knowledge I gave it to a young bright eyed student off to university to study computing and encouraged him to read it, as it contains the sum of human knowledge (well circa about 1975). I don't know what became of it, I suspect he probably sold it on ebay for the price of half a pint of beer (students eh) but I like to think instead that it passed on its secrets to another.

I particularly like the dicussion at the begining of novel computing machinery with 7 and 9 bits to the byte. Although I've never encountered one and suspect I never will.

Ahhh reminiscing.

[beermat]

should be some "odd" word length machines at Bletchley Park. If not, chap I used to work with and who was (when last heard off) down in Grenoble at Aconit conservatory of old iron, they've got some weirdness ones there.

note to self, check SimH and see if it emulates PDP15 etc...