My First Computer | James Gosling and Lex Fridman

TL;DR

The interviewee discusses their experience programming on a PDP-8 machine, highlighting its limited specs and primitive user interface, but also its accessibility and the excitement of building things without physical materials.

Transcript

what's the first program you've ever written oh i have no idea what the first one was i mean i i know the first machine that i learned that i learned to program on what is it was a a pdp-8 um at the university of calgary do you remember the specs oh yeah so so the thing had 4k of ram nice 12-bit words the clock rate was um it was about a third of a... Read More

Key Insights

• 💽 The PDP-8 was an early mini-computer that universities could afford, but it had limited specs compared to modern computers.
• 👤 Programming on the PDP-8 involved using a model 33 teletype, a primitive user interface without monitors.
• 👻 The accessibility of programming on the PDP-8 allowed individuals with limited resources to build complex things.
• 🤑 The interviewee's experience highlights the excitement of programming and the ability to create without the need for physical materials or money.
• 💖 The limitations of early computers and user interfaces sparked curiosity and resourcefulness in early programmers.
• 🎰 While the PDP-8 was not a widely used machine, it provided a platform for experimentation and learning programming languages.
• 💻 The interviewee's experience with the PDP-8 demonstrates the early stages of computer networking and the potential for future advancements.

Questions & Answers

Q: What were the specifications of the PDP-8 machine you learned to program on?

The PDP-8 had 4K of RAM and a clock rate of about a third of a megahertz. It was considered a mini-computer and was affordable for universities.

Q: Did the PDP-8 have time-sharing capabilities?

Yes, there was a time-sharing operating system available for the PDP-8, although it wasn't widely used. The machine I learned on was used for computer networking but was mostly unused.

Q: How did you interact with the PDP-8? Did it have a monitor?

The PDP-8 did not have a monitor. I used a model 33 teletype, which is like a typewriter, and a paper tape reader as the user interface.

Q: Did you realize the potential of exponential improvement and Moore's Law while programming on the PDP-8?

At that time, I didn't see it as anything more than a cool toy. It allowed me to build complex things without needing physical materials or money, but I didn't foresee the massive advancements of technology.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The interviewee learned to program on a PDP-8 machine at the University of Calgary, which had 4K of RAM and a clock rate of about a third of a megahertz.

• The PDP-8 was not considered a supercomputer, but it was one of the first mini-computers that universities could afford to buy.

• The interviewee initially started programming on the PDP-8 out of curiosity and used a model 33 teletype as the user interface.