OK - did you use FORTRAN IV, or one of those Johnny-come-lately modernized versions? ;-)
Ever program the plug boards of an analog computer?
Or have to toggle your program in word by word with switches?
You may not be an old coot (yet), but after all of the years I've put in, I've earned the title and wear it proudly! (Or is the title expert wizard? I keep getting the two confused nowadays...)
Used FORTRAN II, practically the first FORTRAN ever. Still have my ratty, dog-eared programming manual. :)
One of the first jobs I had when I "graduated" from part-time Office Products apprentice to full-time Field Engineering CE was servicing a roomful of IBM 557 Alphabetic Interpreters at the Dept. of Defense in San Francisco. Got so I had those plugboards memorized. :)
The control unit for most of the major IBM System 360 I/O devices, the 2821, had a large, boxy test device that allowed you to run diagnostics by entering two rows of eight switches each. And, of course, my beloved old IMSAI 8080 needed its initial handloop entered by switches before it even knew it was alive. ^_^
Okay, yeah. I'm an old coot. And proud of it! (Does anyone ever really become an expert wizard?)
You definitely qualify for the Order Of The Old Coot, First Class - welcome to the club!
As for becoming an expert wizard, I think we both fail for that title, as one has to be rather full of ones self in order to claim that particular title.
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Well.. maybe a little bit. But not completely!
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Ever program the plug boards of an analog computer?
Or have to toggle your program in word by word with switches?
You may not be an old coot (yet), but after all of the years I've put in, I've earned the title and wear it proudly! (Or is the title expert wizard? I keep getting the two confused nowadays...)
Reply
One of the first jobs I had when I "graduated" from part-time Office Products apprentice to full-time Field Engineering CE was servicing a roomful of IBM 557 Alphabetic Interpreters at the Dept. of Defense in San Francisco. Got so I had those plugboards memorized. :)
The control unit for most of the major IBM System 360 I/O devices, the 2821, had a large, boxy test device that allowed you to run diagnostics by entering two rows of eight switches each. And, of course, my beloved old IMSAI 8080 needed its initial handloop entered by switches before it even knew it was alive. ^_^
Okay, yeah. I'm an old coot. And proud of it! (Does anyone ever really become an expert wizard?)
Reply
As for becoming an expert wizard, I think we both fail for that title, as one has to be rather full of ones self in order to claim that particular title.
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