4 ms·

Ferranti Mark II programming manual, A.M.Turing (1950) [pdf]

26 points by ash 12y ago

mahoro 12y ago
Some random example code from this manual: // /CT/ It is assumed that we have E/ DSTI the following fixed contents: @/ D//H A/ R//P DS ££££ :/ /C/S RS ££££ S/ :CT/ JS //// I/ @CTI U/ :C/S ¼/ JS/P [should be DS/P?] D/ A/ R/ @/ That's brilliant. P.S. OCR'ed version: http://www.computer50.org/kgill/mark1/mark1book.html#manualamt http://www.computer50.org/kgill/mark1/mark1book.html#manuala...
rst 12y ago
Actually identified on the first page as the "Ferranti Mark I" manual -- also known as the Manchester Mark II, because it was the commercialized version of the original experimental computer built at Manchester.
mutagen 12y ago
It is of course important that some efforts be made to verify the correctness of the assertions that are made about a routine. There are essentially two types of method available, the theoretical and the experimental. In the extreme form of the theoretical method a watertight mathematical proof is provided for the assertion. In the extreme form of the experimental method the routine is tried out on the machine with a variety of initial conditions and is pronounced fit if the assertions hold in each case. Both methods have their weaknesses. We're still sorting out the weaknesses in both methods.

26 points by ash 12y ago

Some random example code from this manual: // /CT/ It is assumed that we have E/ DSTI the following fixed contents: @/ D//H A/ R//P DS ££££ :/ /C/S RS ££££ S/ :CT/ JS //// I/ @CTI U/ :C/S ¼/ JS/P [should be DS/P?] D/ A/ R/ @/ That's brilliant. P.S. OCR'ed version: http://www.computer50.org/kgill/mark1/mark1book.html#manualamt http://www.computer50.org/kgill/mark1/mark1book.html#manuala...

rst 12y ago

Actually identified on the first page as the "Ferranti Mark I" manual -- also known as the Manchester Mark II, because it was the commercialized version of the original experimental computer built at Manchester.

mutagen 12y ago

It is of course important that some efforts be made to verify the correctness of the assertions that are made about a routine. There are essentially two types of method available, the theoretical and the experimental. In the extreme form of the theoretical method a watertight mathematical proof is provided for the assertion. In the extreme form of the experimental method the routine is tried out on the machine with a variety of initial conditions and is pronounced fit if the assertions hold in each case. Both methods have their weaknesses. We're still sorting out the weaknesses in both methods.