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Advent of Computing

@adventofcomp.bsky.social
198 followers 118 following 355 posts

A podcast about the history of computing. Currently trapped in the 1940s. adventofcomputing.com

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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 19h
This is from an old IBM tabulator manual explaining what the plug board does. I think I'm going to start explaining software this way. What does it do? Well, check the cycle 12 state diagram... then hit 'em with one of these.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 19h
New rig. Rate my cable management.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 21h
We out here speedcoding. I'm actually losing my mind trying to implement the original SpeedCo I spec right now: archive.computerhistory.org/resources/ac...
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I'm back on the trail of Big Blue! This episode is all about the 701, IBM's first "mass produced" computer. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
podcasts.apple.com
Episode 189 - The IBM 701
Podcast Episode · Advent of Computing · September 27 · 1h 6m
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
If anyone wants to marvel at an early programming language. I present: BACAIC. dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
dl.acm.org
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Hmmm
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I've gone off the deep end again. I'm writing a macro assembler for the LGP-30/21.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Finally back home from my trip! I can't post scans from the archives due to copyright being weird, but I can totally share tourist photos! Here's some of the cool stuff I got to see between scanning and reading old newsprint:
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Tube🍂Time @tubetime.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
i finally finished my Nuvistor video, starring one of the weirder projects i've ever built.
youtu.be
The Vacuum Tube That Almost Beat the Transistor
YouTube video by TubeTimeUS
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Spent today at the Birmingham Library's archives digging through old Dunlop Rubber papers. The adventure continues!
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Tomorrow is archives day #1. So today is sight seeing and trying to recover from travel. Supposedly this cathedral offers tours of a stained glass restoration project. Will update when they open.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
I've made it all the way to waiting at my rural airport. Progress!
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Today! My big adventure to England begins with... A flight delay. Classic.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
I really love the sci-fi realism of a lot of Gundam. For instance, when they show how reactors in mobile suits are powered by smaller mobile suits using a rowing machine. Truly breathtaking and grounded design.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
New episode finally out! The Bi-Tran Six was a computer designed to break down that barrier. It provided a purpose built tool for teaching computing. Created in 1965, the Bi-Tran is a wild study in design. adventofcomputing.com?guid=f12f8dc...
adventofcomputing.com
Advent of Computing
Welcome to Advent of Computing, the show that talks about the shocking, intriguing, and all too often relevant history of computing. A lot of little things we take for granted today have rich stories...
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
My voice is still not quite right, and my dog still avoids eye contact with me, but I'm just about done recording the next episode! And I figured out why Scipio is mad. I spent to much time on his couch this weekend. He wanted me to leave so he could have it to himself.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Yes! I'm a huge fan of boy bawang garlic flavor with chunks of fried garlic and everything! Best hiking snack around, imho.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
I'm sick, so next episode may be a few days late while my voice recovers. To add insult to injury my dog, Scipio, won't even approach me. I think he wants me to leave the couch so he can use it.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
This is so cool! This is an ad for am educational machine called the Bi-Tran Six. The computer's circuits are on slide out boards. It's transistors are grouped into logic gates that are all labeled and match up with diagrams in it's manual.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Imagine having so many bits in this economy!
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
What's better than binary? Ternary! Well, in theory. This episode I'm looking at the history and implications of base 3. It's not as strait forward as it seems. While technically superior to binary there are some odd issues that come up. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
podcasts.apple.com
Episode 187 - What's Better Than Binary?
Podcast Episode · Advent of Computing · August 17 · 1h 5m
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Ok. Check this out. This is a programming board game from a 1969 thesis. The thesis is an attempt to teach school kids about computers. I kinda want to print up a board and give this game a shot: archive.org/details/Rudy...
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
More early binary notation. This is from Thomas Fowler's Tables for facilitating arithmetical calculations, published in 1840. He just marks which positions have 1's in them instead of writing out all digits.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Currently in the fun situation where I remember reading a paper... but I can't find it... I have a pile of links, but I didn't write down useful notes. Own goal, I guess.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Is this the year I actually get passable at SNOBOL4? Perhaps. At least I have a physical print manual now! I keep thinking of trying to write a port of Colossal Cave Adventure in SNOBOL.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Behold! The first MADDIDA from @computerhistory.bsky.social! This is the very model that was shipped across country via air freight and then demo'd to John von Neumann. It somehow survived the flight, a few nights in a cold hotel room, and being operated after a few stiff martinis.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Another VCF in the books. It's always such a fantastic event! Thanks to everyone that showed up for my talk, and to everyone who said they like to use UNIX. I know some of you are lying, but I do appreciate the enthusiasm. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/l...
podcasts.apple.com
LIVE from VCF West - Wait, Is That Really UNIX?
Podcast Episode · Advent of Computing · August 3 · Bonus · 48m
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
Starting the drive down to VCF! I hope I brought enough floppy disks
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
When I say I like retrocomputing this is what I mean:
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
This is interesting! Some very early binary notation. You can recognize it... if you squint a little. archive.org/details/bub_...
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Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 29/07/2026
Forth xkcd.com/3277/
Comic. [Back of car with bumper sticker reading “I forth [red heart emoji]”]
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Reposted by Advent of Computing
Phil Salvador @philsalv.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Dr. Lauren Liebe talking about students learning how to play PLATO games. The early graphics are so abstract by today's standards that they couldn't even tell what they were looking at
A screenshot of the PLATO game Camelot, demonstrating the "graphical uncertainty" witj the game's first-person perspective.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
My long suffering IBM PS/2 now gets to run cursed "UNIX".
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Who else is getting excited for VCF West this weekend?
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
New Adjunct of Computing just dropped everywhere. Question of the day is: what's the best solvent for melting magnetic tape?
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Something isn't quite right here...
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
What is a computer? That's a question I've grappled with for years. The answer changes depending on what period we are talking about. In this episode I'm looking at a machine from 1950 that's digital, but only barely. Would you call it a computer? podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m...
podcasts.apple.com
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Computer birth announcement from 1950 that gets a little... intense.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Does anyone know if there is any running UNIVAC I hardware anywhere? Or has none ever been restored?
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KM @sudox.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
I've been having so much fun doing the after show. The latest episode is out, where Joe tries to get me to be interested in Oberon and I try to get Joe to read a book I haven't quite finished. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1...
podcasts.apple.com
185 - The Conviviality Lair
Podcast Episode · Adjunct of Computing · July 11 · 1h 15m · Video
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Want to read an odd paper? dl.acm.org/doi/epdf/10....
dl.acm.org
Experimental personalized array translator system
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
Currently watching Ebirah, Horror of the Deep. I can totally recommend it. The sound track is used in such a weird way. Surf music while Godzilla acts like King Kong and beats up a lobster. Truly wild.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
I have a question for anyone who has more of a math degree than I do. Lets assume that we do the whole 1/0 is equivalent to true/false thing. And lets assume that = is a function that returns a value. How is = ever different from the Kronecker delta?
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
I'm learning a new language for the show. I will try to keep it a surprise, so all I can say is... ⍳
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
My office buddy.
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Things got delayed with the holiday, but the latest after show is out! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...
podcasts.apple.com
In Search Of The 25 Position Demon Punch
Podcast Episode · Adjunct of Computing · May 29 · 1h 1m · Video
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
I'm going back to VCF West this year! My tentative plan is to do a rundown of all the weird little UNIX clones I've collected. Should be a lot of fun, especially as some new information has been uncovered!
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Consider
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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Latest episode is out! I'm finally talking about magnetic drum memory itself. It's a much more wild story than I ever expected. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...
podcasts.apple.com
Spinning Memories
Podcast Episode · Advent of Computing · May 18 · 59m
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