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> a mainframe isn't really a computer, it's a whole cluster of closely-coupled computers, many with dedicated functionality. This is a great description. I thi

> a mainframe isn't really a computer, it's a whole cluster of closely-coupled computers, many with dedicated functionality. This is a great description. I think we're moving back to the mainframe architecture, but the "cluster" now includes all the machines in a data center, plus the mobile and PC clients connecting to services. Tangentially: I talk about how programming models have evolved from the mainframe to today here: https://gridwhale.medium.com/gridwhale-and-a-brief-history-of-computing-be24e5263328 https://gridwhale.medium.com/gridwhale-and-a-brief-history-o...

rhn_mk1 4y ago
Considering how many programmable computers with dedicated functionality a typical laptop contains, I think they are already clusters. Except those are typically not possible to program by the user, with a few notable exceptions: some older WiFi cards, a few Embedded Controllers. Forget about reprogramming the hard drive.
- mrjin 4y ago
  Yep, I was about to reply with similar stuff but yours posted first. So it's the case when PC came out, but now as you said, modern PCs are already clusters of computers with dedicated functions. The main differences between PC and Mainframe are around: 1. CPU instruction set. 2. Provisions for high availability/reliability and IO at scale.
- rbanffy 4y ago
  > Forget about reprogramming the hard drive. The idea of embedding compute into memory so that a number of small processing units could sit directly on the very wide paths to the memory is not new, but has surfaced a few times lately. If a memory copy or move can be issued by the CPU and never cross the DDR5 path, it’d be a huge win. I don’t see slow peripherals such as hard drives having the same need, but flash memory devices could be more interesting. Some 8-bit computers such as the Ataris and, to a lesser degree, the Commodores, has intelligent peripherals. Atari had a serial bus where you’d daisy chain storage, modems, printers, etc, each with its own little computer and OS. On both, IIRC, the storage device was responsible for the file system while the computer communicated file operations (open, read, seek) over the wire and got results back. It’d, in theory, be possible to send small programs to do specific actions (defrag the disk, filter a text file) without tying up the computer.

rhn_mk1 4y ago

Considering how many programmable computers with dedicated functionality a typical laptop contains, I think they are already clusters. Except those are typically not possible to program by the user, with a few notable exceptions: some older WiFi cards, a few Embedded Controllers. Forget about reprogramming the hard drive.

mrjin 4y ago
Yep, I was about to reply with similar stuff but yours posted first. So it's the case when PC came out, but now as you said, modern PCs are already clusters of computers with dedicated functions. The main differences between PC and Mainframe are around: 1. CPU instruction set. 2. Provisions for high availability/reliability and IO at scale.
rbanffy 4y ago
> Forget about reprogramming the hard drive. The idea of embedding compute into memory so that a number of small processing units could sit directly on the very wide paths to the memory is not new, but has surfaced a few times lately. If a memory copy or move can be issued by the CPU and never cross the DDR5 path, it’d be a huge win. I don’t see slow peripherals such as hard drives having the same need, but flash memory devices could be more interesting. Some 8-bit computers such as the Ataris and, to a lesser degree, the Commodores, has intelligent peripherals. Atari had a serial bus where you’d daisy chain storage, modems, printers, etc, each with its own little computer and OS. On both, IIRC, the storage device was responsible for the file system while the computer communicated file operations (open, read, seek) over the wire and got results back. It’d, in theory, be possible to send small programs to do specific actions (defrag the disk, filter a text file) without tying up the computer.