Burroughs Algol at Stanford University, 1960-1963

The decade between 1955 and 1965 brought a revolution to academic computing, both technologically and socially. As core memory replaced electrostatic memory while transistors replaced vacuum tubes, computers advanced from flakey and difficult-to-maintain devices to reliable appliances. At the same t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE annals of the history of computing 2013-10, Vol.35 (4), p.69-73
Main Author: Braden, Robert
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
academic computing
BALGOL
Biographies
Burroughs Algol
compiler design
Educational institutions
History
history of computing
Program processors
programming technology
Stanford University
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Summary:The decade between 1955 and 1965 brought a revolution to academic computing, both technologically and socially. As core memory replaced electrostatic memory while transistors replaced vacuum tubes, computers advanced from flakey and difficult-to-maintain devices to reliable appliances. At the same time (and partially as a consequence), the academic use of computing expanded rapidly, computing centers became increasingly essential facilities on every campus, and computer science began to gain acceptance as a legitimate academic discipline. This Anecdote recounts the author's experience during this dramatic shift in academic computing at Stanford University during the period between 1960 and 1963. It also records a chapter in the early development of compiler design and programming technology.
ISSN:1058-6180
1934-1547
DOI:10.1109/MAHC.2013.45