Comments on: Burroughs: IF http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/02/10/burroughs-if/ Yesterday's tomorrow, today. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:15:36 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Toronto http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/02/10/burroughs-if/comment-page-1/#comment-1065705 Toronto Thu, 12 Feb 2009 03:58:43 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=7092#comment-1065705 If you can write an app, and keep your marbles Or talk with Suits at meetings over lunch, If neither blogs nor Slashdot galls your yarbles If users count on you, but not a bunch. If you can fill the unforgiving web page With applets that are quick to load and run Yours is the desktop and all that's on it And -- which is more -- you'll be a Hacker, son. - Rudyard Kiloping. If you can write an app, and keep your marbles
Or talk with Suits at meetings over lunch,
If neither blogs nor Slashdot galls your yarbles
If users count on you, but not a bunch.
If you can fill the unforgiving web page
With applets that are quick to load and run
Yours is the desktop and all that’s on it
And — which is more — you’ll be a Hacker, son.

– Rudyard Kiloping.

]]> By: Toronto http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/02/10/burroughs-if/comment-page-1/#comment-1065691 Toronto Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:02:33 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=7092#comment-1065691 Mc - what, you never heard of Multics or Primos or other "Software first" OSes? Anyway, I've programmed in machine languages of that era, and they were pretty horrid (on "smaller" machines like the NCR 500, anyway.) We used to joke that a single instruction machine (subneg) might be better. Mc – what, you never heard of Multics or Primos or other “Software first” OSes?

Anyway, I’ve programmed in machine languages of that era, and they were pretty horrid (on “smaller” machines like the NCR 500, anyway.) We used to joke that a single instruction machine (subneg) might be better.

]]> By: mc http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/02/10/burroughs-if/comment-page-1/#comment-1065676 mc Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:57:56 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=7092#comment-1065676 This computer (the Burroughs B5500) was 50 years ahead of its time. That is, we're just now getting ready for something like it -- a CPU designed to meet the needs of good programming languages instead of the other way around. This computer (the Burroughs B5500) was 50 years ahead of its time. That is, we’re just now getting ready for something like it — a CPU designed to meet the needs of good programming languages instead of the other way around.

]]> By: John M. Hanna http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2009/02/10/burroughs-if/comment-page-1/#comment-1065674 John M. Hanna Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:51:42 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/?p=7092#comment-1065674 Did Rudyard Kipling make this ad? Did Rudyard Kipling make this ad?

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