Thanks for that really detailed review of microprocessor history! A
post to save. Will have to doublecheck about the C64 as the first
source I found was Wikipedia and usually look for another source to
confirm that. Have a book on disassembly of C64 ROMS which came in
very helpfull when I was writing assembler for C64 using the slowest
floppy disk drive I've ever encountered.
After your detailed discussion of the bizarre variety of early Intel
microprocessors I now recall why I refused to have anything to do
with PC's in late 1980's. First played with a 512 K Mac in 1986 and
was blown away. Managed to get a Mac to program on while I was in
med school and used C64 as my timing device for neurologic
experimentation. Glad I just did one contract programming job while
I was in Calgary as had another option of porting my code to a PC
with 80286 processor; once I had a look at the specs decided that I
was much more comfortable with a 68000 based system.
Mac was really nice as it had a debugging switch and used to spend
hours singlestepping through code and disassembled first Mac virus I
encountered in 1988. Mac was very nice as most used routines were
all ROM based and could do a lot in 512 Kb of RAM. Now run all of my
Mac programs in BasiliskII given that Apple stopped supporting old
code once they switched from PowerPC to Wintel CPU's.
Actually, in 1988 M$ QuickBasic was quite easy to use and made it
trivial to do graphics and windows on a Mac. The one paid project I
did was to essentially rewrite a program that another programmer had
tried to code in C, but crashed and burned when she tried to create
forms and buttons - seemed simple when one looked through Inside
Macintosh books but much faster to code in QuickBasic and there were
errors in those Mac books. The one drawback of QB was that it only
supported 24 bit addressing as I discovered when I got my MacIIvx and
upgraded RAM to 16 Mb. Used to think 32 Mb was an enourmous amount of
RAM (in comparison to PDP-11 it was).
I've never liked M$ software as it seems whenever they produce a good
product, they dump it and come up with something far worse and stop
supporting the old one. QuickBasic for Mac was very nice as it
allowed me to concentrate on data acquisition and analysis with forms
and button implementation code trivial (I wasn only 9 years beyond
running data analysis on a 360 with FORTRAN and still have those card
decks and Mac made me switch out of batch job mindset). Also I
consider the 1990 version of M$ word far superior to their latest
versions. Similarly, VB6 is what I switched to once I was forced to
use PC's given that most medical software seems to run only on M$
platforms. Hardcore Visual Basic was a great book and was nice to be
able to code in VB6, have compiled programs that could be augmented
with C subroutines or assembly code. VB.NET is a POS whose only
function seems to be putting people in a sandbox.
I think I naturally gravitated to Apple because in 1980's it was far
more open than any M$ product. Likely a lot of that was due to
Wozniak who was happy to share everything whereas Jobs was probably
reeling him in. The impression I got of Bill Gates was that he was
determined to extract as much money from every product M$ made and
schemed how to extract money from people after they bought
it. Unfortunately, Mac is getting more and more sandboxed compared
to the way they used to be but are orders of magnitude more stable
than windoze. I've slowly been migrating my large collection of VB6
programs I've written over the last 20 years to Linux but still
haven't managed to get VB6 development environment to run under
Linux; can always run XP in a virtual machine for when I need
that. Interestingly, Windoze BasiliskII has no problem running under
Wine as do most open source programs written for Windoze.
For the same thrill I used to get playing with a mix of hardware and
code 40 years ago, I've developed a considerable affection for the
Parallax Propeller chip. Am very tempted to get Propeller2 which is
still in development, but samples of prototypes are available. All
assembly language programming for the cogs, simultaneous execution in
8 cogs and easy to do things like measure time of geiger counter
events to 1 microsecond precision using one cog for generating high
quality random numbers (low byte of interval). Can do same thing in
FPGA's, but that would be too steep a learning curve for me now.
Boris Gimbarzevsky
On Fri, 22 May 2020, Boris Gimbarzevsky wrote:
Thanks for posting the timeline of various Basic interpreters. I
wasn't aware that Gates/Allen also wrote Basic for C64.
Microsoft did a BASIC for the Commodore PET. I wasn't aware that
they did the C64.
Did download the 8080 Basic source code out of interest, but in
early 1980's had very little to do with IBM PC.
PC was 8088, NOT 8080.
BUT, an original 8080 source code can be run through some
algorithmic translation to automagically patch it into something
that is close enough to 8088.
All of my knowledge of the following is third hand, and probably
mostly WRONG. If you are lucky, maybe some of the folk here who
actually KNOW this stuff will step in and give the right information.
Sequence is only approximate.
Well, we can start by considering the 4004. 1971. It was not the
"FIRST" microprocessor, although the later chips based on it
dominated the market. 4 bit data bus. It was designed to be able to
make a whole range of Busicom calculators that could be essentially
the same hardware, and changing ROM, or moving a jumper from
cheapest model to most expensive model would void the warranty.
Then came the 8008, with EIGHT bit data bus, and 14 bit address bus
(16K of RAM)
Then came the 8080, with 8 bit data bus and 16 bit address bus (64K
of RAM) That brought about a giant surge in hobbyists trying to
build computers, including the MITS Altair, etc.
It is important to note that each Intel chip consisted of "minor"
modifications to the previous one. That made it easier to modify a
design or software from one to the next one. Minor patches tended
to be all that was needed. THAT is important. 'course it means
that some aspects are really weird due to being patched on top of
patched, on top of patched, instead of redesigned.
MEANWHILE, other companies started trying to get into the game.
Motorola came out with the 6800, which was pretty cool.
But, they were taking a long time to get around to the next ones, so
a group of engineers left and started MOS Technology, and came out
with the 6500. Motorola's lawyers were not amused. So, the
engineers redesigned an all new, "non-infringing" one called the 6502.
Motorola eventually got around to trying to design "the best 8 bit
microprocessor", and came out with the 6809.
They had designed from scratch, to try to make it the best, so it
had so much different, that previous machines could not be easily
modified for it, and had to be redesigned for it, and software
needed to be re-written, not just patched. They had difficulty
finding any takers, in spite of obvious design superiority, because
most manufaturers were already established with other chips. BUT,
Radio Shack built a machine called "the Radio Shack Color Computer"
around a Motorola application note. Radio shack didn't want it
competing with their other products, and didn't see any reason to
include capabilities, so they had horrible constraints, such as
chiclet keyboard, unexpandable RF video, cartridge slot instead of
expansion bus, etc.
A lot of the early machines were intel 8080, which had 8 bit data
bus and 16 bit address bus, which meant maximum of 64K of RAM,
although it was not very hard to cheat for 128K.
Gary Kildall needed an OS for managing his source code on 8 inch
disks that he added to his computer. He wrote "Control Program and
Monitor", which later became "Control Program for Microcomputers"
("CP/M"). He tried to get Intel to market it, but they didn't think
that there would ever be enough market to sell an operating system
for a microcomputer.
So, he started "Intergalactic Digital Research"
Later, when the hobbyists grew up and lost their sense of humor,
"Thinker Toys" became "Morrow designs". (they had been having some
trademark issues)
"Kentucky Fried Computer" became "Northstar" (they had been having
some trademark issues)
and "Intergalactic Digital Research" bcame "Digital Research Incorporated"
Then Zilog came out with the Z80, which had major enhancements.
BUT, code using those enhancements would not run on an 8080, so CP/M
remained 8080, and many/most? programmers stuck with 8080 for marketable code.
Intel came out with the 8085, which had DIFFERENT [incompatible]
enhancements, so many/most? continued to stick with 8080 code.
I think that the Radio Shack model 100 is 8085.
A hobbyist named Steve Wozniak wanted to build a Z80 computer. But
it was going to cost too much. At Wescon (trade show), he got a
fantastic deal on some 6502 chips. Not what he had been wanting,
but he could make it work, and he could afford them!
He hooked up with Steve Jobs, who had some marketing ideas. They
sold a bunch of "blue boxes", kited some checks, sold Jobs' VW bus
and Woz's calculator, and put together a batch of kits. ($666.66;
they later said that they had not realized the theological
implications of the price)
And, hence, we got "Apple Computer". Later, Apple Music (Beatles)
talked to them about the name. Apple Music agreed to not get into
computers, and Apple Computers agreed to not get into music. Hmmm.
Atari and Commodore both ended up also using the 6502.
Motorola
Then Intel decided to build a "16 bit processor". The 8086 has a 16
bit data bus and a 20 bit address bus, for a maximum of 1M or RAM
When the IBM PC wasbeing planned, there was a lot of difference in
cost between 8 bit and 16 bit support chips.
The 8088 was ALMOST the same as an 8086, but with an 8 bit data bus,
which significantly reduced costs! From an engineering perspective,
the 8088 is an 8 bit version of the 16 bit 8086.
From a MARKETING perspective, it's 16 bit, or maybe 32 bit, or
maybe 64 bit, etc. If a 4 bit machine has a 128 bit Smell-o-vision
port, marketing will call the machine "128 bit"
The IBM PC was an 8088.
IBM went to Microsoft to get BASIC for it. Bill gates put on a suit
and met with them.
The "Pirates Of The Valley" story of Microsoft cold-calling IBM to
sell an operating system PINS THE NEEDLE ON THE BOGUSIMETER. The
author of that fiction needs a hot soldering iron shoved 8 inches up his nose.
Microsoft was happy to oblige on BASIC.
One of the IBM engineers had an Apple2 with a Microsoft "Softcard"
(Z80) to run CP/M. So, IBM asked Microsoft to also supply "the
CP/M". Bill Gates explained that that was Digital Research.
So, IBM went to Digital Research in Pacific grove to get "the CP/M".
There was some "culture clash". IBM showed up in blue suits. There
is an unconfirmed report that somebody at DR thought that it was a
drug raid. I have looked out that upstairs window, and can imagine it.
The IBM suits encountered barefoot workers in shorts and not all
wearing shirts (both sexes?) female workers without bras. cats and
a dog. plants. Surfboards and bicycles in every room.
Gary Kildall wasn't even THERE! He had gone to fly his plane up to
Oakland to visit Bill Godbout. Official story is that that was an
essential errand to deliver some documentation (and no lower
employee could have put some shoes on and driven up?). His wife was
there, and he had told her, "They're just coming to sign a license
agreement. Let them wait in the living room with the rest of the customers."
IBM was not amused.
IBM went back to Microsoft. I heard that Bill Gates told his people
that anybody without a suit should stay home for the day.
IBM said that they wante Microsoft to provide the OS. Bill Gates
said, "we do BASIC. We don't do operating systems." IBM said that
they intended to get the BASIC and the OS from ONE source. Bill
Gates said, "Let me tell you about our new OS department!"
Then Bill Gates went down the street to Seattle Computer Products
and bought 86-DOS/QDOS ("Quick and Dirty OS"), including hardware to
run it on, and the contract of Tim Paterson who wrote it.
Microsoft had a new OS department.
Motorola STARTED work on "The best 16 bit processor". Rather than
patching something earlier, and being stuck with legacy oddities,
they designed from scratch. So, it took longer.
Motorola eventually came out with the 68000, which was the best 16
bit processor. (or 32 bit or 64 bit if you are in marketing)
The Apple3 was a major financial setback. Much more money, for very
little more.
Apple started on a total redesign. It is rumored that for the Lisa,
they explicitly avoided anybody with prior experience to avoid
repeating previous bad ideas. 'course hiring brilliant folk
straight out of college meant that nobody had the prior experience
to know the consequences of building a machine for which software
could NOT just be patched from previous versions. The Lisa was
magnificant! and in a price range (>$20K?) where sales were to
overpaid exectuvies wanting to impress other overpaid
executives. It actually came close to putting Apple on the rocks.
And, it was an ALL-NEW (and improved) machine. Old software
couldn't just be patched, it had to be re-written. The brilliant
recovery plan was to take the Lisa design and cut every corner that
could be cut, to make a machine that could be sold for $500. Once
they did, they found that they could still get away with selling it
for $2K. it was mandated that the resulting machine would come with
four significant pieces of software. By the time it was ready,
those had become Mac-Write, Mac-Paint, Mac-Write, and
Mac-Paint. But that was enough. The marketing people were smart
enough to change the grumbling about building a computer for
ignorant masses into "a computer for the rest of US"
Later, Commodore (Amiga) and Atari (ST) used the 68000. There are
some amazing stories (that i don't know) about that "technology swap"
Intel came out with the 80286, 16 bit data bus with 24 bit address
bus. with fewer limitations. But still a few significant ones,
such as how to switch in and out of "protected mode". "It's like
having to turn your engine off to switch gears on the freeway".
Bill Gates called the 80286, "Brain dead."
In "real mode", which would be limited to 20 bits of address, it is
easy to cheat and enable A20, which permits 64K past the 1M
boundary. THAT is required for Windoze 3.10
Then came the 80386, which could sorta be called a 32 bit
processor. And the 80386-SX, which analogous to the 8088, was a 16
bit version of the 32 bit 30386, permitting building a software
compatible machine using cheap 80286 support chips.
80486, which is kinda like a 80386 plus 80387 math chip, and the
80486SX, with is 80486 without the math processor.
and Pentium. Intel had been finding out the hard way that it was
difficult to maintain trademark of a number (Oldsmobile "442"
notwithstanding) Other manufacturers would make a 80386 like chip
and call it a 486, or an 80486 like chip and call it a 586, etc. So,
they had a naming session. And the other entries were even worse
than "Pentium".
I'm surprised that that didn't backfire horribly! Consider: In
about 1965, Honeywell bought Pentax from Asahi. Honeywell could
totally legitimately have come out with a processor (joint venture
with AMD/Cyrix/etc.?) and called it the "Pentaxium". Intel wouldn't
even be able to object.
Yeah, there have been more since then, but new stuff isn't
interesting for another ten or twenty years. OR MORE for some of
the boring current stuff.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred ci...@xenosoft.com
As was working with PDP-11's at that time, really disliked 8080
instruction set and got a C64 instead which was considerably
cheaper than IBM PC and much easier to write assembly code
for. C64 basic is fairly ugly but bought a 6502 assembler and just
used Basic to display stuff on screen and call my work was done in
assembly language code. Had no trouble sampling switch data at 1
KHz using my "toy" computer. A couple of guys from UBC Physiology
decided to build a programmable stimulator based on C64 which they
were trying to sell for $2K, considerably less than the ~$10 K that
the dedicated device that was commonly used then. Even though
their timing specifications matched the expensive device, a lot of
researchers back then didn't want a "toy" to be part of their lab
setup so sales were few.
Recently found a movie Pirates of Silicon Valley which had some of
early Microsoft history and, if depictions of individuals are true
to reality, explains why I far preferred Mac in comparison to ugly
early windows. It also helped that 68000 was a very easy processor
to migrate to after 8 years doing assembler/FORTRAN programming on
a PDP-11. Couldn't believe it when I had a full 512 Kb of RAM to play in.
