Re: Charles Lasner [Was: Re: LINC-8]

[Bob Smith via cctalk]

Rick Merrill is doing well last time I exchanged comments with him.
We wired in 8 engineering, DecComm11, and LCG together over the years.
I will have to rattle his cage just for fun now.
bb

On Tue, Apr 28, 2020 at 12:29 PM Lyle Bickley via cctalk
 wrote:
>
> On Mon, 27 Apr 2020 10:58:59 -0400
> Chris Zach via cctalk  wrote:
>
> >   NL7776  /SETUP -2
> >   TAD (-7776) /COMPARE TO EXPECTED VALUE
> >   SZA CLA /SKIP IF OK
> >   JMP IMA8S   /JUMP IF RETARDED BROTHER
> >
> > / IF WE GET HERE, WE'RE NOT A PDP-8/S.
> >
> > Ok, that made me laugh.
>
> Charles and I have many emails over the years going back and forth regarding
> OS/8 vs. P?S/8.
>
> He was one of those folks that when you sent him a five line email, you would
> often get a five page response. Charles was definitely opinionated - but often
> proven to be right.
>
> Both Charles and Merrill (author of FOCAL) teased me when I got my PDP-8/S
> running. It was definitely SLOW (8/S where S=Slow). Merrill told me that DEC
> management was furious when FOCAL displayed which kind of 8 it was running on.
> Management wanted folks to think all 8's were totally compatible.
>
> Charles designed P?S/8 to run in a 4K PDP-8 - making it feasible to run on a
> basic 8/S (OS/8 requires a minimum of 8K). I hope it gets "released" someday 
> :)
>
> I'll miss Charles and his passion for P?S/8.
>
> Lyle
>
> --
> > On 4/27/2020 10:40 AM, Pontus Pihlgren via cctalk wrote:
> > > On Mon, Apr 27, 2020 at 09:08:24AM -0500, John H. Reinhardt via cctalk
> > > wrote:
> > >> Charles Lasner.  He passed the weekend of April 3rd due to
> > >> complications from the COVID-19 virus.  I'm fuzzy on his exact
> > >> biography, but he was big in the development of OS/8 for the PDP-8 at
> > >> DEC.  His current project was an update of OS/8 which he called
> > >> P?S/8.  Apparently he owned multiple LINC-8's according to comments on
> > >> the Facebook group.
> > >
> > > He also worked onKermit-12, for instance the code that identifies which
> > > PDP-8 machine it is running on. It is quite fun to follow that code. It
> > > can, impressively, separate between a PDP-5, LINC-8, PDP-12, Straight-8,
> > > 8/S, 8/I, 8/L, 8/E, 8/A, 6100 and 6120.
> > >
> > > Here, search for "MACHINE,.-."
> > > http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/ftp/d/k12mit.pal
> > >
> > > A lot of PDP-8 know-how and trivia went with him, sorry to see him go.
> > >
> > > /P
> > >
>
>
>
> --
> 73   NM6Y
> Bickley Consulting West Inc.
> https://bickleywest.com
>
> "Black holes are where God is dividing by zero"

Re: Charles Lasner [Was: Re: LINC-8]

[Lyle Bickley via cctalk]

On Mon, 27 Apr 2020 10:58:59 -0400
Chris Zach via cctalk  wrote:

>   NL7776  /SETUP -2
>   TAD (-7776) /COMPARE TO EXPECTED VALUE
>   SZA CLA /SKIP IF OK
>   JMP IMA8S   /JUMP IF RETARDED BROTHER
> 
> / IF WE GET HERE, WE'RE NOT A PDP-8/S.
> 
> Ok, that made me laugh.

Charles and I have many emails over the years going back and forth regarding
OS/8 vs. P?S/8.

He was one of those folks that when you sent him a five line email, you would
often get a five page response. Charles was definitely opinionated - but often
proven to be right.

Both Charles and Merrill (author of FOCAL) teased me when I got my PDP-8/S
running. It was definitely SLOW (8/S where S=Slow). Merrill told me that DEC
management was furious when FOCAL displayed which kind of 8 it was running on.
Management wanted folks to think all 8's were totally compatible.

Charles designed P?S/8 to run in a 4K PDP-8 - making it feasible to run on a
basic 8/S (OS/8 requires a minimum of 8K). I hope it gets "released" someday :)

I'll miss Charles and his passion for P?S/8.

Lyle

--
> On 4/27/2020 10:40 AM, Pontus Pihlgren via cctalk wrote:
> > On Mon, Apr 27, 2020 at 09:08:24AM -0500, John H. Reinhardt via cctalk
> > wrote:  
> >> Charles Lasner.  He passed the weekend of April 3rd due to
> >> complications from the COVID-19 virus.  I'm fuzzy on his exact
> >> biography, but he was big in the development of OS/8 for the PDP-8 at
> >> DEC.  His current project was an update of OS/8 which he called
> >> P?S/8.  Apparently he owned multiple LINC-8's according to comments on
> >> the Facebook group.  
> > 
> > He also worked onKermit-12, for instance the code that identifies which
> > PDP-8 machine it is running on. It is quite fun to follow that code. It
> > can, impressively, separate between a PDP-5, LINC-8, PDP-12, Straight-8,
> > 8/S, 8/I, 8/L, 8/E, 8/A, 6100 and 6120.
> > 
> > Here, search for "MACHINE,.-."
> > http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/ftp/d/k12mit.pal
> > 
> > A lot of PDP-8 know-how and trivia went with him, sorry to see him go.
> > 
> > /P
> >   



-- 
73   NM6Y
Bickley Consulting West Inc.
https://bickleywest.com

"Black holes are where God is dividing by zero"

Re: Charles Lasner [Was: Re: LINC-8]

[jim stephens via cctalk]

On 4/27/2020 6:53 PM, Al Kossow via cctalk wrote:

On 4/27/20 6:34 PM, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote:

He said he had his own OS that he wanted me to try out


that wish has dragged on for decades
I hope whoever ends up with his estate knows people are interested in 
P?S/8


http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?49581-Some-P-S-8-files-have-appeared-might-we-see-it-in-our-lifetimes 



Talk on the PDP8 page that there will be a dump of all of the OS and 
other assets to be public.


Bob Vines:    4/27/20

Charlie Lasner passed from COVID-19 on 03 Apr 2020. He was still 
perfecting P?S/8. We've managed to image his non-password-protected 
computer drives in an attempt at recovering P?S/8.
Assuming that we're successful _and_ his widow gives permission, we'll 
make it available "as is." We'll also have his documentation (that he 
wrote & used before writing the code) and make it available too. When 
bugs turn up, hopefully skilled users will make corrections and share 
them -- perhaps on GitHub.

Bob

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1751201531858202/

Thanks
Jim

Re: Charles Lasner [Was: Re: LINC-8]

[Al Kossow via cctalk]

On 4/27/20 6:34 PM, Bill Degnan via cctalk wrote:

He said he had his own OS that he wanted me to try out


that wish has dragged on for decades
I hope whoever ends up with his estate knows people are interested in P?S/8

http://www.vcfed.org/forum/showthread.php?49581-Some-P-S-8-files-have-appeared-might-we-see-it-in-our-lifetimes

Re: Charles Lasner [Was: Re: LINC-8]

[Bill Degnan via cctalk]

On Mon, Apr 27, 2020 at 8:01 PM Bob Smith via cctalk 
wrote:

> I can say over the last 30 years or so, I enjoyed a number of
> exchanges with CJL.
> I did enjoy the repartee - iirc most of it was just between us, but
> some was in some 8 related channel.
> I found him knowledgeable, opinionated, but most of the time just
> plain fun to argue with.
> Over the last 6 or 7 years, sparse contact, but always remembered fondly.
> Sorry to see him pass.
> bb
>
>
>
Oh wow, I just realized what you're talking about hereI spoke with him
on the phone two months ago...He said he was not well but he did not
elaborate. I did not know him well but I am sorry to hear this happened.
>From what I knew of him, very knowledgeable and passionate about the PDP
8.  He said he had his own OS that he wanted me to try out, I hope someday
to get a copy of the RK05 boot pack.
Bill

Re: Charles Lasner [Was: Re: LINC-8]

[Bob Smith via cctalk]

I can say over the last 30 years or so, I enjoyed a number of
exchanges with CJL.
I did enjoy the repartee - iirc most of it was just between us, but
some was in some 8 related channel.
I found him knowledgeable, opinionated, but most of the time just
plain fun to argue with.
Over the last 6 or 7 years, sparse contact, but always remembered fondly.
Sorry to see him pass.
bb

On Mon, Apr 27, 2020 at 11:18 AM John H. Reinhardt via cctalk
 wrote:
>
> On 4/27/2020 9:58 AM, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote:
> > NL7776 /SETUP -2
> > TAD(-7776)/COMPARE TO EXPECTED VALUE
> > SZA CLA/SKIP IF OK
> > JMPIMA8S/JUMP IF RETARDED BROTHER
> >
> > /IF WE GET HERE, WE'RE NOT A PDP-8/S.
> >
> > Ok, that made me laugh.
> >
> > C
> >
>
> >
> I never had any exchanges with Charles, well, none of significance, but he 
> could be of rather, um, shall we say strong opinion on topics.
>
> --
> John H. Reinhardt
>
>
>
> > On 4/27/2020 10:40 AM, Pontus Pihlgren via cctalk wrote:
> >> On Mon, Apr 27, 2020 at 09:08:24AM -0500, John H. Reinhardt via cctalk 
> >> wrote:
> >>> Charles Lasner.  He passed the weekend of April 3rd due to
> >>> complications from the COVID-19 virus.  I'm fuzzy on his exact
> >>> biography, but he was big in the development of OS/8 for the PDP-8 at
> >>> DEC.  His current project was an update of OS/8 which he called
> >>> P?S/8.  Apparently he owned multiple LINC-8's according to comments on
> >>> the Facebook group.
> >>
> >> He also worked onKermit-12, for instance the code that identifies which
> >> PDP-8 machine it is running on. It is quite fun to follow that code. It
> >> can, impressively, separate between a PDP-5, LINC-8, PDP-12, Straight-8,
> >> 8/S, 8/I, 8/L, 8/E, 8/A, 6100 and 6120.
> >>
> >> Here, search for "MACHINE,.-."
> >> http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/ftp/d/k12mit.pal
> >>
> >> A lot of PDP-8 know-how and trivia went with him, sorry to see him go.
> >>
> >> /P

Re: Charles Lasner [Was: Re: LINC-8]

[jim stephens via cctalk]

On 4/27/2020 7:40 AM, Pontus Pihlgren via cctalk wrote:

On Mon, Apr 27, 2020 at 09:08:24AM -0500, John H. Reinhardt via cctalk wrote:

Charles Lasner.  He passed the weekend of April 3rd due to
complications from the COVID-19 virus.  I'm fuzzy on his exact
biography, but he was big in the development of OS/8 for the PDP-8 at
DEC.  His current project was an update of OS/8 which he called
P?S/8.  Apparently he owned multiple LINC-8's according to comments on
the Facebook group.

He also worked onKermit-12, for instance the code that identifies which
PDP-8 machine it is running on. It is quite fun to follow that code. It
can, impressively, separate between a PDP-5, LINC-8, PDP-12, Straight-8,
8/S, 8/I, 8/L, 8/E, 8/A, 6100 and 6120.

Here, search for "MACHINE,.-."
http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/ftp/d/k12mit.pal

A lot of PDP-8 know-how and trivia went with him, sorry to see him go.

/P

I looked up his obituaries, and include some  links here.  Also a link 
discussing his visit to the RICM


I left a note on each of these.  Everhear requires some sort of login.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/charles-lasner-obituary?pid=195884420

https://www.everhere.com/us/obituaries/ny/west-babylon/charles-lasner-10663008

visit to RICM
https://groups.google.com/forum/?#!topic/alt.sys.pdp8/ZUVbAdtV8RA

Very sad to hear of his passing.
Jim

Re: Charles Lasner [Was: Re: LINC-8]

[John H. Reinhardt via cctalk]

On 4/27/2020 9:58 AM, Chris Zach via cctalk wrote:

NL7776 /SETUP -2
TAD    (-7776)    /COMPARE TO EXPECTED VALUE
SZA CLA    /SKIP IF OK
JMP    IMA8S    /JUMP IF RETARDED BROTHER

/    IF WE GET HERE, WE'RE NOT A PDP-8/S.

Ok, that made me laugh.

C






I never had any exchanges with Charles, well, none of significance, but he 
could be of rather, um, shall we say strong opinion on topics.

--
John H. Reinhardt




On 4/27/2020 10:40 AM, Pontus Pihlgren via cctalk wrote:

On Mon, Apr 27, 2020 at 09:08:24AM -0500, John H. Reinhardt via cctalk wrote:

Charles Lasner.  He passed the weekend of April 3rd due to
complications from the COVID-19 virus.  I'm fuzzy on his exact
biography, but he was big in the development of OS/8 for the PDP-8 at
DEC.  His current project was an update of OS/8 which he called
P?S/8.  Apparently he owned multiple LINC-8's according to comments on
the Facebook group.


He also worked onKermit-12, for instance the code that identifies which
PDP-8 machine it is running on. It is quite fun to follow that code. It
can, impressively, separate between a PDP-5, LINC-8, PDP-12, Straight-8,
8/S, 8/I, 8/L, 8/E, 8/A, 6100 and 6120.

Here, search for "MACHINE,.-."
http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/ftp/d/k12mit.pal

A lot of PDP-8 know-how and trivia went with him, sorry to see him go.

/P 

Re: Charles Lasner [Was: Re: LINC-8]

[Chris Zach via cctalk]

NL7776  /SETUP -2
TAD (-7776) /COMPARE TO EXPECTED VALUE
SZA CLA /SKIP IF OK
JMP IMA8S   /JUMP IF RETARDED BROTHER

/   IF WE GET HERE, WE'RE NOT A PDP-8/S.

Ok, that made me laugh.

C

On 4/27/2020 10:40 AM, Pontus Pihlgren via cctalk wrote:

On Mon, Apr 27, 2020 at 09:08:24AM -0500, John H. Reinhardt via cctalk wrote:

Charles Lasner.  He passed the weekend of April 3rd due to
complications from the COVID-19 virus.  I'm fuzzy on his exact
biography, but he was big in the development of OS/8 for the PDP-8 at
DEC.  His current project was an update of OS/8 which he called
P?S/8.  Apparently he owned multiple LINC-8's according to comments on
the Facebook group.


He also worked onKermit-12, for instance the code that identifies which
PDP-8 machine it is running on. It is quite fun to follow that code. It
can, impressively, separate between a PDP-5, LINC-8, PDP-12, Straight-8,
8/S, 8/I, 8/L, 8/E, 8/A, 6100 and 6120.

Here, search for "MACHINE,.-."
http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/ftp/d/k12mit.pal

A lot of PDP-8 know-how and trivia went with him, sorry to see him go.

/P

Charles Lasner [Was: Re: LINC-8]

[Pontus Pihlgren via cctalk]

On Mon, Apr 27, 2020 at 09:08:24AM -0500, John H. Reinhardt via cctalk wrote:
> Charles Lasner.  He passed the weekend of April 3rd due to 
> complications from the COVID-19 virus.  I'm fuzzy on his exact 
> biography, but he was big in the development of OS/8 for the PDP-8 at 
> DEC.  His current project was an update of OS/8 which he called 
> P?S/8.  Apparently he owned multiple LINC-8's according to comments on 
> the Facebook group.

He also worked onKermit-12, for instance the code that identifies which 
PDP-8 machine it is running on. It is quite fun to follow that code. It 
can, impressively, separate between a PDP-5, LINC-8, PDP-12, Straight-8, 
8/S, 8/I, 8/L, 8/E, 8/A, 6100 and 6120.

Here, search for "MACHINE,.-."
http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/ftp/d/k12mit.pal

A lot of PDP-8 know-how and trivia went with him, sorry to see him go.

/P

Re: LINC-8

[John H. Reinhardt via cctalk]

On 4/27/2020 7:47 AM, Noel Chiappa via cctalk wrote:

 > From: Bob Smith 

 > saw a comment that this belonged to CJL.

Chris Lindblad? Sorry, I'm drawing a blank on someone with those initials who
is connected with the LINC.

Charles Lasner.  He passed the weekend of April 3rd due to complications from 
the COVID-19 virus.  I'm fuzzy on his exact biography, but he was big in the 
development of OS/8 for the PDP-8 at DEC.  His current project was an update of 
OS/8 which he called P?S/8.  Apparently he owned multiple LINC-8's according to 
comments on the Facebook group.

--
John H. Reinhardt

Re: LINC-8

[Bob Smith via cctalk]

Charles Lasner.

On Mon, Apr 27, 2020 at 8:47 AM Noel Chiappa via cctalk
 wrote:
>
> > From: Bob Smith 
>
> > saw a comment that this belonged to CJL.
>
> Chris Lindblad? Sorry, I'm drawing a blank on someone with those initials who
> is connected with the LINC.
>
>
> > From: Jon Elson
>
> > Wow, those were fairly rare back when, and now there may only be a
> > couple in existence.
>
> Yeah, that's why I was hoping that someone connected to this community would
> get it, so we don't lose track of this rare artifact.
>
> I'd buy it, but i) it's not a PDP-11, and fails my 'PDP-11's only' test
> (intended to put a strict limit on the amount of junk I accumulate), and ii) I
> already have a whole bunch of PDP-11 gear I have yet to get to. :-( There's no
> way I would ever get to it.
>
> > Two complete CPUs, capable of running at the same time in shared memory
> > (I think).
>
> The documentation (1967 Small Computer Handbook) is unclear. It is clear that
> the general mode of operation was for only one CPU at a time to be running,
> but that appears to be to simplify programming (although it does say that "In
> the PDP-8 mode, the LINC subsystem is disabled"). The memory is indeed shared;
> it's on the PDP-8, and the LINC gains access via the standard PDP-8 'data
> break' (i.e. DMA) mechanism.
>
>Noel
>
>
>

Re: LINC-8

[Noel Chiappa via cctalk]

> From: Bob Smith 

> saw a comment that this belonged to CJL.

Chris Lindblad? Sorry, I'm drawing a blank on someone with those initials who
is connected with the LINC.


> From: Jon Elson

> Wow, those were fairly rare back when, and now there may only be a
> couple in existence.

Yeah, that's why I was hoping that someone connected to this community would
get it, so we don't lose track of this rare artifact.

I'd buy it, but i) it's not a PDP-11, and fails my 'PDP-11's only' test
(intended to put a strict limit on the amount of junk I accumulate), and ii) I
already have a whole bunch of PDP-11 gear I have yet to get to. :-( There's no
way I would ever get to it.

> Two complete CPUs, capable of running at the same time in shared memory
> (I think).

The documentation (1967 Small Computer Handbook) is unclear. It is clear that
the general mode of operation was for only one CPU at a time to be running,
but that appears to be to simplify programming (although it does say that "In
the PDP-8 mode, the LINC subsystem is disabled"). The memory is indeed shared;
it's on the PDP-8, and the LINC gains access via the standard PDP-8 'data
break' (i.e. DMA) mechanism.

   Noel

Re: LINC-8

[Steven M Jones via cctalk]

On 04/26/2020 13:38, Noel Chiappa via cctalk wrote:

Wow:

   https://www.ebay.com/itm/353062352448

I've read manuals for these, but I've never even seen a picture of one before.


They had one of these in use at the William Penn Charter School (K-12 
prep school) in Philadelphia through the early 1980s. When in use, I 
believe it was paired with a Teletype, I would guess a 33 variant but 
the memories are fuzzy.


I mis-remembered the name for years as a LINC-5 -- understandably 
confusing to folks who usually expressed polite disbelief when I would 
describe it...


It was left in the "computer room" (e.g. large closet) and neglected 
after the last class using it graduated, while younger students were 
exclusively using the handful of Apple IIs sharing the space.  I'm 
afraid the LINC was picked apart by bored students, who liked to pull 
out Flip Chips, glance at the components on them, and let the cards pile 
up in the bottom of the rack... Then it disappeared over break or summer 
vacation one year, don't recall which.


--S.

Re: LINC-8

[John H. Reinhardt via cctalk]

On 4/26/2020 5:21 PM, Bob Smith via cctalk wrote:

saw a comment that this belonged to CJL.
bb


That's what they're saying over on the PDP-8 Facebook page. 


--
John H. Reinhardt




On Sun, Apr 26, 2020 at 4:57 PM William Donzelli via cctalk
 wrote:

Wow:

   https://www.ebay.com/itm/353062352448

I've read manuals for these, but I've never even seen a picture of one before.

"needs work"

That would be an understatement.




...and be careful with this deal...

--
Will

Re: LINC-8

[William Donzelli via cctalk]

> Wow, those were fairly rare back when, and now there may
> only be a couple in existence.

At least eight I know of. Pretty high survival percentage, actually.

--
Will

Re: LINC-8

[Jon Elson via cctalk]

On 04/26/2020 03:38 PM, Noel Chiappa via cctalk wrote:

Wow:

   https://www.ebay.com/itm/353062352448

I've read manuals for these, but I've never even seen a picture of one before.

Wow, those were fairly rare back when, and now there may 
only be a couple in existence.
Two complete CPUs, capable of running at the same time in 
shared memory (I think).
Unlike the PDP-12 which had both instruction sets but could 
only run one at a time.


I had a fair bit of experience with LINCs and the PDP-12 
back in the early 1970's.


Jon

Re: LINC-8

[Bob Smith via cctalk]

saw a comment that this belonged to CJL.
bb

On Sun, Apr 26, 2020 at 4:57 PM William Donzelli via cctalk
 wrote:
>
> > Wow:
> >
> >   https://www.ebay.com/itm/353062352448
> >
> > I've read manuals for these, but I've never even seen a picture of one 
> > before.
>
> "needs work"
>
> That would be an understatement.
>
>
>
>
> ...and be careful with this deal...
>
> --
> Will

Re: LINC-8

[William Donzelli via cctalk]

> Wow:
>
>   https://www.ebay.com/itm/353062352448
>
> I've read manuals for these, but I've never even seen a picture of one before.

"needs work"

That would be an understatement.




...and be careful with this deal...

--
Will

Re: LINC-8 and PDP-8 manuals

[Pontus Pihlgren]

Hmm, I'm thinking hard of what I should bring on saturday that might 
interrest you. This is right up my alley.

You already have one of each of what I own :D

/P

On Thu, Jun 23, 2016 at 07:20:13PM +0200, Mattis Lind wrote:
> I have been going through our library of documentation and found some items
> that are duplicates.
> 
> There are a LINC-8 programming manual, PDP-8 DecTape programming manual,
> PDP-8/L maintenance manual, PDP-8/e maintenance manual volume I and volume
> III.
> 
> http://i.imgur.com/YEAdnZV.jpg?1
> http://i.imgur.com/pvsypvY.jpg?1
> 
> Trade for something interesting!
> 
> Other things that is also for trade:
> 
> http://www.datormuseum.se/available
> 
> /Mattis