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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

TIL: UNIVAC I could stall, and it had an alarm to warn of a stall.

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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Why didn't your program compile? Well, if you look at cycle 3, you can see that your flow is wack. Try restructuring it to have a better flow!

Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

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.

Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

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

Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

No clue. I think it's pronounced like basic but wrong

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

I've gone off the deep end again. I'm writing a macro assembler for the LGP-30/21.

Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Last but not least, a listener gave me a tour of the National Museum of Computing at Bletchly Park. The highlight was definitely the EDSAC recreation project.

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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Gloucester Cathedral! I'm a sucker for stained glass, so this was a must. And just a few blocks from the hotel I was cooped up in.

Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Cardiff castle! The mix of actual old castle and 19th century rich dude renovation/extension is wild to behold.

Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The British Museum! Their collection is vast, and raises ethical concerns. None the less, I enjoyed seeing all the really old stuff. Especially all the cuneiform.

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:

Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Sadly, no. They weren't open on the day I had free time.

Tomb💀Time @tubetime.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Reposted by Advent of Computing

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

I was misled! The restoration was already done. The stained glass looks great!

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.

Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Today it's Birmingham, then later this week it's off to Gloucester

Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

I've made it to England! Riding the rails up to my first stop of the trip

Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

And now to wait for the real long flight

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Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Getting closer. Finally boarded, next stop SFO!

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.

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.

Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

THE ENTHUSIASM WILL ALWAYS CONTINUE COMPUTERS ARE JUST NEAT

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

Pictured: Scipio getting what he wants.

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.

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.

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...

Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I realize this isn't the best example. Later in the table he is notating things like 5 = 3, 0

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.

Advent of Computing @adventofcomp.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Haha! Found it! It wasn't in my notes but I remembered a paper it cited. Thank goodness for full text search. IDK how folk lived without that...

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.

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.

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