🚀 go-pugleaf

On 2/24/2018 11:14 PM, Charles Richmond wrote:
> On 2/23/2018 6:00 PM, Mike Causer wrote:
>> On 23 Feb 2018 02:21:26 -0400
>> Mike Spencer <mds@bogus.nodomain.nowhere> wrote:
>>
>>> In 1964, when my school had one computer (IBM 1620) they offered a
>>> course in "computer programming" for which I signed up.  It was taught
>>> by a guy seconded from industry.  He specified a textbook on numerical
>>> methods and proposed to teach us that.  Half the class announced that
>>> they would drop the course if he didn't teach us how write programs.
>>
>> Hot damn! My first was a 1620 -- doesn't everyone remember their first?
>> We were a Mech Eng class and computers were not on our syllabus, but we
>> had an optional hour lecture a week on programming in Fortran II for
>> the 1620.  Best attended lecture series of that year.   Time on the
>> 1620 was free of charge and had the side effect of developing our
>> negotiation skills because running order was entirely arranged next to
>> the 1620 by the contestants (errr?) each with a deck of cards in their
>> hand.
>>
> 
> Same here...  IBM 1620 model II with a hard disk.  Our textbook was a 
> hundred page folded book by Daniel D. McCracken.   90% of it was 
> FORTRAN II with a little FORTRAN IV at the end.  It was a 2 credit 
> hour course but it had a lab part.  The 1620 was "open shop" and we 
> punched our own cards.
> 
> 
Ah, yes. Our copy of McCracken was perfect bound, but IIRC didn't have 
anything about FORTRAN IV. Maybe an earlier edition? We weren't a very 
large school or engineering class (this was 1965), and we punched our 
own cards. And were shown how to boot the 1620 up (switch these things 
on, wait, load the cold start deck), and told "this window is never 
locked, so if you need to use the computer after hours, climb in 
there". I don't actually remember an "official" way to submit programs 
(there must have been one), but do remember sitting around the 
computer room BS'ing with other students and idly watching the 
blinkenlights... if a repeating pattern became obvious, it usually 
meant somebody had an endless loop.