EDSAC - Revision history

Jnc: /* External links */ +The EDSAC Order Code: Explanatory Notes

2025-09-25T10:34:40Z

‎External links: +The EDSAC Order Code: Explanatory Notes

Jnc: +The EDSAC and Computing in Cambridge

2024-08-30T16:58:55Z

+The EDSAC and Computing in Cambridge

Jnc: /* External links */ +The thinking behind EDSAC

2024-03-14T14:09:47Z

‎External links: +The thinking behind EDSAC

Jnc: Add a few details; +further reading

2024-01-08T13:27:00Z

Add a few details; +further reading

Jnc: +New cat

2023-12-21T22:02:08Z

+New cat

Jnc: fmt, better cat

2023-01-03T13:18:20Z

fmt, better cat

Jnc: -semist

2022-05-18T22:01:22Z

-semist

Tor: Fixed some minor typos

2012-02-24T10:04:48Z

Fixed some minor typos

Archivist: add a bit more explanation

2007-05-19T20:50:55Z

add a bit more explanation

Archivist: what edsac stands for

2007-05-18T21:58:43Z

what edsac stands for

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 * [http://www.vintage-icl-computers.com/EDSAC EDSAC]
 * [http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/CCS/res/res02.htm#c The thinking behind EDSAC] - personal memories from Maurice Wilkes
 * [https://www.whipplemuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-whipple-collections/calculating-devices/edsac-and-computing-cambridge The EDSAC and Computing in Cambridge]

@@ Line 81: / Line 81: @@
 * [http://www.vintage-icl-computers.com/EDSAC EDSAC]
-* [http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/CCS/res/res02.htm#c - The thinking behind EDSAC] - personal memories from Maurice Wilkes
+* [http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/CCS/res/res02.htm#c The thinking behind EDSAC] - personal memories from Maurice Wilkes
 [[Category: Early Computers]]
 [[Category: Unique Computers]]

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 * [http://www.vintage-icl-computers.com/EDSAC EDSAC]
 [[Category: Early Computers]]
 [[Category: Unique Computers]]

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-The '''Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator''' (usually referred to by the acronym, '''EDSAC''') was conceived in 1946, the machine did its first calculation in the summer of 1949.
+The '''Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator''' (usually referred to by the acronym, '''EDSAC''') was a very early computer; a [[serial computer]] internally, built out of [[vacuum tube]]s, with mercury [[delay line]] [[main memory]]. It was conceived in 1946, and the machine did its first calculation in the summer of 1949.
 ==Operation==
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 {{semi-stub}}
 [[Category: Early Computers]]
-[[Category: Mainframes]]
+[[Category: Unique Computers]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:02, 21 December 2023
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	{{semi-stub}}		{{semi-stub}}

		+	[[Category: Early Computers]]
	[[Category: Mainframes]]		[[Category: Mainframes]]

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-EDSAC Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator was conceived in 1946, the machine did its first calculation in the summer of 1949
+The '''Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator''' (usually referred to by the acronym, '''EDSAC''') was conceived in 1946, the machine did its first calculation in the summer of 1949.
-The EDSAC order code
+==Operation==
-The action of the machine proceeds in two stages; in stage I an order passes from the store into the control unit; in stage II the order is executed. The machine then proceeds automatically to repeat stage I, in general taking the order from the storage location following that containing the order just executed. (add exception note here) Each
+The action of the machine proceeds in two stages; in stage I an order passes from the store into the control unit; in stage II the order is executed. The machine then proceeds automatically to repeat stage I, in general taking the order from the storage location following that containing the order just executed. (add exception note here) Each order calls for one simple operation to be performed; for example, it may cause some number to be extracted from the store and added to whatever happens to be in the accumulator, the sum being left in the accumulator, or it may cause the contents of the accumulator to be transfered to the store. Some orders, for example left or right shift orders, do not involve the use of the store at all.
 There are in the EDSAC code eighteen orders from which the programmer can build up his program. They are written in the form of a letter indicating the function of the order, and a number (the address) specifying the location (if any) in the store concerned. The address is followed by the code letter F if it refers to a short storage location, and by the code letter D if it refers to a long storage location, The full order code for the EDSAC is as follows:
-'''Order Code'''
+==Order Code==
 Where the code letter terminating an order is not shown it may be either F or D.
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 {{semi-stub}}
-[[Category:Computers]]
+[[Category: Mainframes]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:58, 18 May 2007
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−	~~Conceived~~ in 1946 ~~and~~ the machine did its first calculation in the summer of 1949	+	EDSAC Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator was conceived in 1946, the machine did its first calculation in the summer of 1949

	Order Codes		Order Codes