Why are some programmers fascinated by model railroading? A mechanical technology from the 19th century has somehow remained a powerful totem in the culture of programmers throughout the decades.
Several have noted the resemblance of miniature model train layouts to a programmable system, delighting once more in the fact that no matter how far we’ve come, our modern insights can still mingle with our memories of mighty engines from long ago. Even as the world of model trains, like programming itself, is transformed by ever more sophisticated tools, logical brains keep solving the new challenges that arise.
While working as a part-time programmer, I’ve dreamed about building my own high-tech model train set and it turns out I’m not the only one. Last month the New York Times reported that several model train makers were seeing a jump in sales during the pandemic. “For many people, the chance to create a separate, better world in the living room with stunning mountains, t
March 1, 2021
Yet another PDP-1 riddle, extended mode.
Yesterday, we solved the mystery of two well-known images, formerly known as “The PDP-1 at the Tech Model Railroad Club”, with the help of the Hacker News community. A triumph of shared knowledge.
In 1971, the German artist Daniel Chodowiecki (1726 – 1801) commented his etching “Enlightenment”
(Aufklärung) by the words, “However, if the sun only rises, mists do no harm.”
(Indessen wenn die Sonne nur aufgeht, so schaden Nebel nichts.) In real life, mists rise only to reveal another bank of fog. Which is the very process of research. And this is certainly no exception. So this is a post about annother bank of fog, in the amazing form factor of a fully transitorized electronic contraption apt to manipulate 18-bit words in realtime according to a stored program and human interaction.
Hackers are friends not foes, says Alyssa Miller in this opening argument for our latest debate
Alyssa Miller Wed 3 Mar 2021 // 11:00 UTC Share
Register debate
Welcome to the latest Register Debate in which writers discuss technology topics, and you – the reader – choose the winning argument. The format is simple: a motion is proposed, the argument for the motion is published today, and the argument against will be published on Friday.
During the week you can cast your vote using the embedded poll, choosing whether you re in favor or against the motion. The final score will be announced next Tuesday, revealing whether the for or against argument was most popular. It s up to our writers to convince you to vote for their side.
A story of trains, computers, and two images.
This is at the same time a continuation to what may become a loose series, namely, “Things on the Web that aren’t what they seem to be”, and the beginning of an entirely new one. Anyway, this is the story of two photos that are rather well known in the context of computer history. You may even have seen one or the other popping up on a website.
Since you are reading this blog, you may be even familiar with the broader context.
Context
In 1961, the MIT recieved a DEC
PDP-1 computer from Digital Equipment Corporation as a donation. It was one of the very first production models and DEC’s motivation was a multiple one: First, the PDP-1 was somewhat of a commercial version of MIT’s experimental TX-0 computer