# burroughs (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 5 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover burroughs. Page: Feed: --- ## [WAITS: Programming](https://timereshared.com/waits-programming/) _2026-08-16 · Time Reshared_ As an operating system for a research lab, WAITS was used extensively to write programs. In this post we'll look at which languages were used, the software development environment - and investigate an early implementation of Donald Knuth's MIX system. Cover of the FAIL manual.. Source: Bitsavers Lisp, FAIL and SAIL The three main programming environments used by the lab were all maintained in… ## [WAITS: Arthur Samuel's Checkers](https://timereshared.com/waits-samuel-checkers/) _2026-08-09 · Time Reshared_ Although chess was a popular target, one of the earliest examples of using classical pre-LLM artificial intelligence to play games was checkers/draughts. Arthur Samuel wrote one of the first such programs in the early 1950s, ported this to the PDP-10 when he moved to SAIL and even created a version for a home computer in the late 1970s. In this post we'll look at Samuel's work on checkers and run… ## [WAITS: Getting data in and out](https://timereshared.com/waits-getting-data-in-and-out/) _2026-08-02 · Time Reshared_ If you were working at SAIL in the 1970s and wanted to get data into or out of the system there were several options. Print outs could be made to the line printer or the new XGP laser printer. Data could be exchanged with other sites and computers via magnetic tape (open reel and DECtape) and paper tape. The Arpanet, predecessor of the Internet, was just starting and you could exchange data via… ## [Galactic Warzone is Back!](https://www.smbaker.com/galactic-warzone-is-back) _2026-07-26 · admin · Dr. Scott M. Baker_ Galactic Warzone was a BBS door game back in the 1980s. This is a remake of galwar in 2025 written in Go. ## [WAITS: Editors](https://timereshared.com/waits-editors/) _2026-07-25 · Time Reshared_ Today we'll look at the text editors available on WAITS . There are two classes of editor: traditional teletype editors like SOS or TECO, and display editors like TV or E. Although the latter class is not fully working on emulation yet, it's interesting to get an idea of how they operated as they represent an early example of interactive editing. The SOS (left) and TV (right) editors. Source:… ## [WAITS: The first interactive spell checker](https://timereshared.com/waits-spell/) _2026-07-19 · Time Reshared_ Today we'll look at SPELL , probably the world's first interactive spell checker, which debuted on WAITS in 1971. The WAITS spell checker on the III. Source: Rupert Lane. License: CC0 . Origins The origins of SPELL are in work Les Earnest did at MIT to recognise cursive handwriting in the late 1960s/early 1960s. He put together a dictionary of around 10,000 English words (from ABANDON to… ## [Online RC2014 Emulator!](https://www.smbaker.com/online-rc2014-emulator) _2026-07-13 · admin · Dr. Scott M. Baker_ Online RC2014 emulator runs RomWBW, Small Computer Monitor, BASIC, or NostOS right from your web browser on emulated Z80 hardware. ## [WAITS: Jobs, users and security](https://timereshared.com/waits-jobs-users-and-security/) _2026-07-12 · Time Reshared_ Today we'll look at how users and security are handled on WAITS - this is fairly relaxed, allowing free access to resources for people inside the lab, but with protection available if needed. Remote users are more restricted. We also look at jobs, which are similar to processes on modern systems. Remote logins to WAITS. You can't log in as an existing user (like JMC) if no password has been set.… ## [WAITS: Files and directories](https://timereshared.com/waits-files-and-directories/) _2026-07-05 · Time Reshared_ Today we'll look at how WAITS handles files, the commands to manipulate them, and how the WAITS PPN / directory structure works. Logging in and changing directory. Source: Rupert Lane. License: CC0 . Files Files are named file.ext where file is 1-6 characters long and ext 0-3. The extension is used to identify the type of file, eg HELLO.SAI would be a source code file in SAIL, the lab's version of… ## [WAITS: Terminals and keyboards](https://timereshared.com/waits-terminals-and-keyboards/) _2026-06-27 · Time Reshared_ To expand on what we saw in the quick tour , let's look further at how you can interact with WAITS using the simh emulator. There are two classes of terminals: teletypes and display terminals. Teletypes Teletypes here means the console typewriter (shown below, with John McCarthy helpfully holding the paper) and remote connections, which simh emulates as a telnet connection but on the real system… ## [Home of the Agentic Pull Request (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/uZgVZDKEcJ1Z) _2026-06-27 · **Sponsored**_ CLI-first, TUI-ready toolkits and a moshscript installer — join the waitlist ## [WAITS: A quick tour using simh](https://timereshared.com/waits-quick-tour-simh/) _2026-06-21 · Time Reshared_ In this post I will show how to get the 1974 snapshot of WAITS running using the simh emulator. We'll use the command line on the console, run a AI program from 50 years ago, write a short program and use the display terminal for some vector graphics. Running WAITS on simh. Source: Rupert Lane. License: CC0 . The quick start repo I have put together a repo on Github that uses Richard Cornwell's KA… ## [Teleram 4000 / T-4000 Vintage Computer with Magnetic Bubble Memory](https://www.smbaker.com/teleram-4000-t-4000-vintage-computer-with-magnetic-bubble-memory) _2026-06-20 · admin · Dr. Scott M. Baker_ The Teleram 4000 or t-4000 is a vintage computer that is portable and uses magnetic bubble memory. It runs the CP/M operating system. ## [Stanford WAITS](https://timereshared.com/stanford-waits/) _2026-06-14 · Time Reshared_ WAITS was the operating system for the PDP-6 and PDP-10 at the first incarnation of the Stanford AI Laboratory (SAIL), running continuously from 1966 to 1991. Uniquely, its full file system was preserved and a snapshot of the system can be run under emulation. Collage of images from a visit from DEC staff to SAIL, 1976. Source: CHM . SAIL was founded by John McCarthy in 1963 (before Stanford even… ## [Speech Plus Prose 2000 Speech Synthesizer — original model used by Stephen Hawking?](https://www.smbaker.com/speech-plus-prose-2000-speech-synthesizer-original-model-used-by-stephen-hawking) _2026-06-08 · admin · Dr. Scott M. Baker_ The Speech Plus Prose 2000 is a speech synthesizer from 1982 based on the same algorithm as the DECtalk. This is the same brand/model of speech synthesizer originally used by the physicist Stephan Hawking. The Prose 2000 is a multibus card, but can be operated as a standalone speech synthesizer as well. ## [Itron DG12B](https://display-tubes.org/vfd/itron-dg12b/) _2026-06-06 · Display Tubes_ The DG12B is a VFD tube manufactured in Japan by the Itron Corporation, the company that originally invented VFD technology in 1966. What makes this tube stand out in particular is the distinctive appearance of its digits. Rather than using the seven-segment design still commonly found in digital readouts today, it employs a more intricate nine-segment arrangement that gives the digits an almost… ## [Olivetti M10 with Interesting PicDisc Drive](https://vintagecomputer.ca/picdisc/) _2026-06-04 · Santo Nucifora · VintageComputer.ca_ I recently found and acquired an interesting peripheral for the Olivetti M10 portable computer. It is one of the “Model T” computers including the TRS-80 Model 100, NEC PC-8201, Olivetti M10 and the Kyocera... ## [Restoring a GRiD Compass and Building the World’s First GPIB Speech Synthesizer](https://www.smbaker.com/restoring-a-grid-compass-and-building-the-worlds-first-gpib-speech-synthesizer) _2026-06-02 · admin · Dr. Scott M. Baker_ I restored a GRiD Compass computer and created a GPIB-based speech synthesizer for it. The GRiD is unique due to its use of Magnetic Bubble Memory, and the Speech Synthesizer uses the vintage SP0256A-AL2, Votrax SC-01A, and SSI-263 ICs. ## [ETL GR10K](https://display-tubes.org/nixie/etl-gr10k/) _2026-06-02 · Display Tubes_ The GR10K is an early Nixie tube manufactured by ETL in Great Britain sold under the brand name ‘Digitron’. It is identical to the GR10H except for the omission of an anode grid. While this gives the tube a highly unique and appealing appearance with great visibility of the digits, it also means that there is nothing preventing sputter from the cathodes accumulating on the inside of… ## [Site Update](https://timereshared.com/site-update-20260510/) _2026-05-10 · Time Reshared_ That's all, for now, on TOPS-10. I've concentrated on the roughly pre-1975 era, using the PDP-10 KA CPU and operating system version 6.03; I may come back to this in the future and look at later versions if I find anything interesting. Next update to this blog will be in June, where we will look at the Stanford University A.I. lab's operating system for the PDP-10, WAITS . This started out as a… ## [TOPS-10: Essex BCPL](https://timereshared.com/tops-10-essex-bcpl/) _2026-05-03 · Time Reshared_ BCPL - Basic Combined Programming Language - is probably best known as the ancestor of the C programming language made famous by Unix. But BCPL was an important and widely used language in its own right. First implemented by Martin Richards for CTSS, it spread to many different architectures during the 1970s, especially in the UK where it was used for teaching computer science, AI and in industry.… ## [Non-custodial Crypto Payments & Escrow (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/V8BayPSJSBvu) _2026-05-03 · **Sponsored**_ Accept multi-chain crypto with trustless escrow, instant confirmations, and no KYC ## [AID - the JOSS language for TOPS-10](https://timereshared.com/tops-10-aid/) _2026-04-25 · Time Reshared_ AID, or the Algebraic Interpretive Dialogue, was DEC's first public version of the JOSS interpreter for the PDP-6/10. JOSS - the JOHNNIAC Open Shop System - was an early time-shared language created at the RAND corporation in 1963. This ran on JOHNNIAC, a computer they had built in house, and offered 20-30 users who were not expert programmers the ability to write short mathematical programs. By… ## [TOYO 6G-E12A](https://display-tubes.org/magic-eye/toyo-6g-e12a/) _2026-04-23 · Display Tubes_ The 6G-E12A is peculiar magic eye tube manufactured by the Japanese company TOYO. Unlike most top-viewing magic eyes tubes, such as the common 6E5 , which feature circular screens, the 6G-E12A’s screen is rectangular. It is the successor to the 6G-E12 tube, which features a similar rectangular screen design but has a different display characteristic. The 6G-E12A is a so-called double… ## [TOPS-10: Algol 60](https://timereshared.com/tops-10-algol/) _2026-04-18 · Time Reshared_ This week it's time to look at the Algol 60 compiler on TOPS-10. This was a supported product from DEC that integrates with the standard COMPILE/EXEC system . Files should have an extension of .ALG to be automatically recognised as Algol As with every Algol compiler, there are several implementation dependent features to deal with issues like character set and for unspecified facilities like I/O.… ## [TOPS-10: The TECO editor](https://timereshared.com/tops-10-teco-editor/) _2026-04-12 · Time Reshared_ We looked at the SOS editor previously, now let's try the more powerful - and more complex - TECO (Text Editor and Corrector) on TOPS-10. History Dan Murphy wrote the first version of TECO for the PDP-1 in 1962 while working at MIT. The name originally stood for Tape Editor and Corrector - "tape" here meaning paper tape. For this machine programs were prepared offline using a teletype that could… ## [NostOS: The Nostalgia Operating System, for RC2014](https://www.smbaker.com/nostos-the-nostalgia-operating-system-for-rc2014) _2026-04-06 · admin · Dr. Scott M. Baker_ NostOS, the Nostalgia Operating System, is a new operating system for Z80/8080 computers such as the RC2014. It features a plethora of devices, run-time loadable extensions, and is designed to be inherently rommable. ## [TOPS-10: Fortran](https://timereshared.com/tops-10-fortran/) _2026-04-04 · Time Reshared_ Today we'll take a quick look at programming using Fortran on TOPS-10. Compiler versions As noted in the programming introduction , there were two Fortran compilers for TOPS-10: the original compiler, later called F40, that supported Fortran 66, and Fortran-10 which was introduced in around 1972 that supported Fortran 66 and, in later versions, Fortran 77. The 6.03 disk images we have contains… ## [TOPS-10: BASIC](https://timereshared.com/tops-10-basic/) _2026-03-29 · Time Reshared_ BASIC on TOPS-10 is very similar to the version of Dartmouth BASIC from 1968. It runs in its own environment where you can edit programs and load/save file, and is interpreted rather than compiling source to machine code first. Language features As in 4th edition Dartmouth BASIC, the DEC version supports LET (optional) to define variables, DIMENSION to declare arrays. PRINT , INPUT for I/O READ ,… ## [TOPS-10: Programming](https://timereshared.com/tops-10-programming/) _2026-03-22 · Time Reshared_ A large number of programming languages were available for TOPS-10, both provided by DEC and created by third parties. In this article we'll take a quick tour of what is available today, along with a brief look at the TOPS-10 programming environment. Programming languages available From DEC DEC provided the MACRO-10 assembler, and compilers for the big three languages of the time: Fortran, Algol… ## [TOPS-10 utilities: PIP, RUNOFF, FILCOM and SEND](https://timereshared.com/tops-10-utilities-pip-runoff-filcom-send/) _2026-03-13 · Time Reshared_ This week we'll look at four utilities included in TOPS-10: PIP , for file copy and translation; RUNOFF to produce text documents; FILCOM to compare files; and finally the chat facility provided by SEND . PIP PIP or the Peripheral Interchange Program, is a tool to copy and transform files that was implemented on most of DEC's operating systems, and later copied by CP/M. Many of the file handling… ## [TOPS-10: Users](https://timereshared.com/tops-10-users/) _2026-03-08 · Time Reshared_ Today let's investigate how users and logins are handled on TOPS-10. We will see how to look at user information and add new ones, and there's also a brief discussion of the security of this version. Viewing user information The REACT program is used to manage users on TOPS-10. Although you can start this program as a regular user, it will not have much effect as it cannot read the accounting… ## [Install Manifest V3 Extension (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/4CJt0h1Ze3TH) _2026-03-08 · **Sponsored**_ Get this Manifest V3 extension from the official TronBrowser Store listing. ## [Reconstructing OPL: Joseph Weizenbaum's Online Programming Language](https://timereshared.com/reconstructing-joseph-weizenbaums-opl/) _2026-03-01 · Time Reshared_ Joseph Weizenbaum joined MIT in 1963 and is most famous for creating ELIZA , the world's first chatbot. One of his other projects was OPL, the Online Programming Language, which used his SLIP list processing library to implement an interpreted, interactive language that could take advantage of the new facilities provided by time-sharing operating systems like CTSS . First conceived in 1963, it was… ## [TOPS-10: Jobs](https://timereshared.com/tops-10-jobs/) _2026-02-21 · Time Reshared_ TOPS-10 is able to run multiple jobs (processes) per user, and has a flexible set of commands to control them, including the ability to pause a job and resume it on another terminal. It also has a batch job facility. But we'll start with a question on how to run jobs. Why do I sometimes need to type R command and other times type command ? When you login to TOPS-10, you are in monitor mode - you… ## [TOPS-10: Getting data in and out](https://timereshared.com/tops-10-getting-data-in-and-out/) _2026-02-14 · Time Reshared_ On a real PDP-10 running TOPS-10, you'd likely to have several peripherals to allow data to enter and leave the system: line printers, card punches and readers, paper tape and magnetic tape. One other alternative we've not seen before is DECtape which were magnetic tapes with a smaller form factor and a block structured, allowing random access to files. This meant they could be used as a slow… ## [Sharp PC-5000, Vintage Laptop with Bubble Memory Cartridge System](https://www.smbaker.com/sharp-pc-5000-vintage-laptop-with-bubble-memory-cartridge-system) _2026-02-14 · admin · Dr. Scott M. Baker_ Restoring a Sharp PC-5000, a unique vintage comptuer laptop with built in bubble memory cartridge drive. I talk about repairing the power supply, the keyboard, and the LCD screen. ## [TOPS-10: The SOS text editor](https://timereshared.com/tops-10-sos-editor/) _2026-02-08 · Time Reshared_ In this post we'll look at the simple but powerful SOS text editor on TOPS-10. Starting SOS Type sos file.ext : if this is a new file SOS will print INPUT and put you in a mode where you can type lines. If it is an existing file it will print EDIT and you will be in command mode. Inputting text SOS will automatically assign numbers to each line which you will see on the left. You can type each… ## [TOPS-10: Files and directories](https://timereshared.com/tops-10-files-and-directories/) _2026-02-01 · Time Reshared_ In this post we'll look at how TOPS-10 handles files and directories, along with the commands to manipulate them. Files Files are named file.ext where file is 1-6 characters long and ext 0-3. The extension is used to identify the type of file, eg HELLO.FOR would be a Fortran source code file. The \* and ? wildcards operate like we are used to now, ? matching one character and \* matching any number… ## [TOPS-10: A quick tour using simh](https://timereshared.com/tops-10-quick-tour-simh/) _2026-01-25 · Time Reshared_ In this post I will show how to get TOPS-10 version 6.03 running using the simh emulator. Starting up TOPS-10, with the console on top and the user login below. Source: Rupert Lane. License: CC0 . The quick start repo I have put together a repo on Github that uses Richard Cornwell's PDP-10 KA simh emulator along with a ready-to-use disk image of TOPS-10 6.03 produced by the PiDP-10 project, which… ## [Monitor Cataract Repair on my Burroughs B21 Vintage Computer CRT](https://www.smbaker.com/monitor-cataract-repair-on-my-burroughs-b21-vintage-computer-crt) _2026-01-18 · admin · Dr. Scott M. Baker_ Repairing cataracts on the CRT tube of a vintage computer monitor. ## [DEC TOPS-10](https://timereshared.com/dec-tops-10/) _2026-01-18 · Time Reshared_ For background information on the PDP-10, see the previous article . TOPS-10 (standing for either Time-sharing or Total Operating System-10) was DEC's first operating system for the PDP-10 family of computers. It grew out of the original Monitor for the PDP-6 released in 1964, with the TOPS-10 name coming around the time the PDP-10 was launched. It received many updates adding new functionality… ## [Burroughs HB-105](https://display-tubes.org/other/burroughs-hb-105/) _2026-01-17 · Display Tubes_ The HB-105 is a so-called Pixie tube manufactured by Burroughs. Unlike a Nixie tube, which forms numerals from a stack of digit-shaped cathodes, the Pixie tube uses a single anode plate perforated with digit-shaped holes, through which a neon discharge can be seen. The tube’s datasheet lists its various supposed advantages over Nixie tubes which included the ability to display multiple… ## [DEC PDP-10](https://timereshared.com/dec-pdp-10/) _2026-01-11 · Time Reshared_ Detail from the cover of the PDP-10 Reference Handbook 1970. Source: Bitsavers The PDP-10 family of computers (under different names) was manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporation between 1964 and 1983. Designed for time-sharing, batch and real-time systems, these computers were popular with universities, scientific companies and time-sharing bureaux. Several operating systems were available,… ## [Burroughs B21 / Convergent AWS Vintage Computer Restoration](https://www.smbaker.com/burroughs-b21-convergent-aws-vintage-computer-restoration) _2026-01-07 · admin · Dr. Scott M. Baker_ The Burroughs B21 Vintage Computer is a rebranded version of the Convergent Technologies AWS. In this post I obtained a B21 from eBay and work through the various steps needed to restore it and get it to work again. ## [Sylvania 8894](https://display-tubes.org/vfd/sylvania-8894/) _2026-01-05 · Display Tubes_ The 8894 is an early vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) tube manufactured in the united States by Sylvania and sold under the brand name “Flurotron”. Its most distinctive feature is the use of “floating” segments; unlike most other VFDs, where the segments are held on a continuous backplane. Another notable difference from later VFD designs is the absence of a control grid.… ## [Site Update](https://timereshared.com/site-update-20251214/) _2025-12-14 · Time Reshared_ That brings us to the end of the series of posts about Burroughs MCP. Next update to this blog will be in the new year, where I will look at our first operating system for the DEC PDP-10, TOPS-10 . ## [Burroughs MCP: WIPL Programming](https://timereshared.com/mcp-wipl/) _2025-12-07 · Time Reshared_ So one of the languages available on the CUBE tape for the Burroughs B5500 is WIPL. Let's find out what this is and get it running. What is WIPL? From the Algol source code of the language: WIPL - WISCONSIN INTERACTIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING LANGUAGE BY ED HARRIS AND BOB JANOSKI UNIV. OF WISCONSIN COMPUTING CENTER (MADISON) VERSION 1.50 (9/1/70) So we know its name and source, but this is not much help -… ## [NEC LD-836](https://display-tubes.org/nixie/nec-ld-836/) _2025-11-27 · Display Tubes_ The LD-836 is a medium-sized Nixie tube manufacured by NEC in Japan, notable for its highly unusual, nearly rectangular glass envelope. This distinctive shape makes the tube’s front face significantly narrower than that of comparable Nixies and allows multiple tubes to be placed closer together in display assemblies. In addition to displaying the digits 0 through 9, the LD-836 also includes… ## [Burroughs MCP: The b5500-software archive](https://timereshared.com/mcp-b5500-software-archive/) _2025-11-22 · Time Reshared_ Apart from the preserved operating system tapes, the other major source of software for the Burroughs B5500 is retro-software/B5500-software on Github. This was assembled by Paul Kimpel, Richard Cornwell, Nigel Williams and many other contributors from a number of digital and physical sources. It contains around 100MB of compilers, interpreters, utilities and source code routines. The centre of… ## [Millclock ZIN-70](https://display-tubes.org/nixie/millclock-zin-70/) _2025-11-20 · Display Tubes_ The ZIN-70 is a modern Nixie tube and, with its 70mm digits, ranks among the largest ever produced. Handmade in limited quantities by the Ukrainian company Millclock, it is available both as part of their Nixie clock range and as a standalone component. Its construction bears a strong resemblance to another contemporary Nixie tube: the R|Z568M , manufactured by Dalibor Farný and his company. A… ## [Burroughs MCP: COBOL Programming](https://timereshared.com/mcp-cobol/) _2025-11-16 · Time Reshared_ It's time for the final language supported by Burroughs MCP under time-sharing: COBOL. As always we will implement the TPK algorithm . However, this turned out to be quite a challenge. Two view of COBOL COBOL - the COmmon Business-Orientated Language - is probably the most successful language originating in the 1950s. Designed by a committee to standardise business processing, it was adopted by… ## [Burroughs MCP: Getting data in and out](https://timereshared.com/mcp-getting-data-in-and-out/) _2025-11-09 · Time Reshared_ Today we'll look at how to get data in and out of MCP running under emulation. This is useful if you want to upload programs or download listings and data. Using the CANDE terminal window, you can copy and paste small amounts of data but this does not work for large amounts (especially for input where the buffer is small). Instead we can reuse some of the facilities provided by the original…