🚀 go-pugleaf

Louis Howell asked:

>Does anyone know what the first stored program computer was?  I'm
>sure we could simulate its machine language, or assembler if it
>had one.

Identifying historical "firsts" is always tricky, particularly if you
do not specify exactly what qualifications you had in mind. However
there is general agreement that the word's first "operational
practical electronic stored program computer" was the Cambridge EDSAC
(May 1949).  Delete the word "practical" and the honour I suggest goes to
Manchester, for their "baby machine" (April 1949), built primarily to
test out the CRT memory device. (Another contender is the BINAC.)

An excellent emulator for the EDSAC has been written for the MAC, by
Martin Campbell-Kelly of the University of Warwick. This comes
complete with a number of authentic early programs, and a very
readable manual. Quite how this will be eventually distributed I am
not sure, but people with a genuine interest in the simulator might
email him directly (mck@uk.ac.warwick.cs).
Brian Randell, Computing Laboratory, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
EMAIL =	Brian....@newcastle.ac.uk
PHONE =	+44 91 222 7923    FAX = +44 91 222 8232