In <[log in to unmask]> [log in to unmask] writes:

> Today, when lots of people buy 300MHz, 32MB home computers just to play
> games and write homework assignments, it may be difficult to understand
> the limitations that software engineers faced 30 years ago.
>

30 years ago would be 1967.  In the summer of 1966, I wrote 3 programs
3 programs for design analysis of spur gears.  This was a college summer
job for the GE Malta Test Station, north of Schenectady.

The programs were written in Dartmouth ALGOL on a GE 635 with a Teletype
as the remote input device.  Each program was limited to 5000 source
characters and a temporary disk file was used to pass the results of one
program to the next.  This temporary disk file capability had just been
added earlier in the year and was a great new feature.  Other than storage
for your BASIC or ALGOL program there were no permanent disk files.

Backup medium as paper punched tape.

Bruce.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
   Bruce J. Senn                             Phone:  (518) 388-6664
   Senior System Manager                     FAX:    (518) 388-6458
   Union College                   Internet:  [log in to unmask]
   Schenectady, NY 12308
----------------------------------------------------------------------