Computing in the Middle Ages
by Severo M. Ornstein · first published 2002
80% recommend20% neutral
Why HN recommends it
First-person memoir of a programmer's years in early computing from 1955 to 1983, covering the LINC and lab work; suits readers curious about how software was built before personal computers.
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Two excellent technology history books I read in 2013 are _Dream Machine_ by M. Mitchell Waldrop and _Computing in the Middle Ages_ by Severo Ornstein. _Dream Machine_ in particular tied together many strands that I had previously explored separately; it's a far-ranging, incredibly well-researched work that covers the development…
on “Ask PG/HN: Recommended reading on the history of technology” ↗…the grand scheme of things, it was so incredibly important): - "The LINC Revolution", in "Biomedical Computing" by Joseph November: http://www.amazon.com/Biomedical-Computing-Digitizing-Univer... - "Computing in the Middle Ages" by Severo Ornstein: http://www.amazon.com/Computing-Middle-Ages-Trenches-1955-19... - "The Dream Machine" by M. Mitchell Waldrop: http://www.amazon.com/The-Dream-Machine-Licklider-Revolution... R.I.P.
on “Wesley A. Clark, legendary computer engineer, dies at 88” ↗All good recs so far. Here's a few I haven't seen mentioned yet - Computing in the Middle Ages: A View From the Trenches 1955-1983 - Severo Ornstein Early British Computers - Simon Lavington Geeks Bearing Gifts - Ted Nelson (and also Computer Lib/Dream Machines) more recently - UNIX: A History…
on “Ask HN: What are more books like “Masters of Doom” or “Showstoppers”?” ↗Since these have not been mentioned already: * Brian Bagnall trilogy on the history of Commodore/Amiga: http://variantpress.com * Severo Ornstein's "Computing in the Middle Ages", about how it used to be a professional programmer back in the early days. You can find his CHM oral history interview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q243lfVdQ9E. * "Stan Veit's History of the Personal…
on “Ask HN: Computer Science/History Books?” ↗Severo Ornstein's "Computing in the Middle Ages" [1] has plenty of detail on the development and lab usage of the LINC. He claims it as the first personal computer. Wes Clark presents "The LINC was Early and Small" at the ACM Conference on the History…
on “Laboratory Instrument Computer LINC: “The Genesis of a Technological Revolution”” ↗Not really about history of technology as a whole but the book Computing in the Middle Ages was really fascinating. Made me realize that lots of the challenges software engineers face are much older than we assume. https://www.amazon.com/Computing-Middle-Ages-Trenches-1955-1...
on “Ask HN: Good Books on the History of Technology?” ↗The Dream Machine by M. Mitchell Waldrop Computing in the Middle Ages by Severo Ornstein - https://worrydream.com/refs/Ornstein_2002_-_Computing_in_the...
on “A USB Interface to the "Mother of All Demos" Keyset” ↗…Silicon Valley: Innovation and the Growth of High Tech, 1930-1970 High Stakes, No Prisoners: A Winner's Tale of Greed and Glory in the Internet Wars Founders at Work: Stories of Startups' Early Days Computing in the Middle Ages: A View From the Trenches 1955-1983 iWoz: Computer Geek to Cult Icon: How I Invented the Personal Computer, Co-Founded Apple, and Had Fun Doing It Digital Retro: The Evolution and Design of the Personal…
on “Ask HN: Books on Computer History” ↗…fun read and exploration about counterculture, the Silicon Valley and microcomputers and on why it all happened together. - "Where Wizards Stay Up Late" is an account on the dawn of the Internet. - "Computing in The Middle Ages" is a first-person account on the birth of the personal computer. No, not the one you thought. - "Accidental Empires" seems a little bit dated in retrospective, but it's an exceedingly fun to read book…
on “Ask HN: How to learn about the history of computing?” ↗Severo Ornstein called his memoir of the 1950s - 1970s Computing in the Middle Ages. Ornstein worked on SAGE, TX-2, LINC, and the Arpanet IMP among other things, before moving on to Xerox PARC. https://worrydream.com/refs/Ornstein_2002_-_Computing_in_the...
on “Run ancient UNIX on modern hardware” ↗I've heard this before but I read a book called "Computing in the Middle Ages" which was a memoir of a man who worked on the SAGE, LINC and Xerox Parc projects. According to him, programming especially in the batch era was a highly social and manpower intensive activity with a…