Whirlwind - Revision history

Larsbrinkhoff: Category: Lincoln Laboratory Computers

2026-10-26T05:49:54Z

Category: Lincoln Laboratory Computers

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:49, 26 October 2026
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	[[Category: 16-bit Computers‎]]		[[Category: 16-bit Computers‎]]
	[[Category: Unique Computers]]		[[Category: Unique Computers]]
			[[Category: Lincoln Laboratory Computers]]

Jnc: /* Further reading */ Add a couple of good reference books

2026-09-18T11:53:09Z

Further reading: Add a couple of good reference books

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:53, 18 September 2026
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	* Kent C. Redmond, Thomas M. Smith, ''Project Whirlwind: The History of a Computer Pioneer'', Digital Press, Bedford, 1980		* Kent C. Redmond, Thomas M. Smith, ''Project Whirlwind: The History of a Computer Pioneer'', Digital Press, Bedford, 1980
			* Kent C. Redmond, Thomas M. Smith, ''From Whirlwind To MITRE: The R&D Story of the SAGE Air Defense Computer'', MIT Press, Cambridge, 2000
			* Bernd Ulmann, [https://books.google.com/books/about/AN_FSQ_7_the_computer_that_shaped_the_Co.html?id=_HnpBQAAQBAJ ''AN/FSQ-7: The Computer That Shaped the Cold War''], De Gruyter Oldenbourg, Munich, 2014 - contains considerable material on Whirlwind

	==External links==		==External links==

Jnc: First computer used interactively

2025-11-04T20:17:27Z

First computer used interactively

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:17, 4 November 2025
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	'''Whirlwind''' was one of the very first computers; it was enormously influential, for several reasons. It was the first [[real-time]] computer, unlike all the other first-generation computers, which were intended only for large-scale computations for numerical [[application]]s. It was ~~also the first computer with~~ [[~~core memory~~]], which ~~was invented~~ for ~~it (some time after it had first come into service; it initially used [[Williams tube\|electrostatic]] [[vacuum tube]] [[main memory]])~~.		'''Whirlwind''' was one of the very first computers; it was enormously influential, for several reasons. It was the first [[real-time]] computer, unlike all the other first-generation computers, which were intended only for large-scale computations for numerical [[application]]s. Associated with that, it was used interactively, rather than in [[batch processing]] mode, and had several successors in that - which set the path for most of today's computers.

	Whirlwind was built at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology\|MIT]] (MIT's first computer), originally for use in a flight simulator, but wound up being used to prototype the [[SAGE]] air defence system.		Finally, Whirlwind was also the first computer with [[core memory]], which was invented for it (some time after it had first come into service; it initially used [[Williams tube\|electrostatic]] [[vacuum tube]] [[main memory]]). It was built at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology\|MIT]] (MIT's first computer), originally for use in a flight simulator, but wound up being used to prototype the [[SAGE]] air defence system.

	It was built out of vacuum tubes, and had a [[word]] size of 16 bits. It used a predecessor to [[microcode]] for internal control [[logic]] (it used a sequence of hard-wired control words for control, effectively [[read-only memory\|ROM]], but did not include any ability to alter the order of [[execute\|execution]] thereof.)		It was built out of vacuum tubes, and had a [[word]] size of 16 bits. It used a predecessor to [[microcode]] for internal control [[logic]] (it used a sequence of hard-wired control words for control, effectively [[read-only memory\|ROM]], but did not include any ability to alter the order of [[execute\|execution]] thereof.)
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	==See also==		==See also==

	* [[TX-0]] - an ~~early~~ important descendant		* [[Memory Test Computer]] - a now little-known, but important, early descendant
	* [[LINC]] - another important descendant of Whirlwind		* [[TX-0]] - an important descendant, which led to another, [[TX-2]]
			* [[LINC]] - another important, albeit somewhat distant, descendant of Whirlwind

	==Further reading==		==Further reading==

Jnc: Avoid redirs

2025-04-09T14:56:49Z

Avoid redirs

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:56, 9 April 2025
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	'''Whirlwind''' was one of the very first computers; it was enormously influential, for several reasons. It was the first [[real-time]] computer, unlike all the other first-generation computers, which were intended only for large-scale computations for numerical [[application]]s. It was also the first computer with [[core memory]], which was invented for it (some time after it had first come into service; it initially used [[Williams tube\|electrostatic]] [[vacuum tube]] [[main memory]]).		'''Whirlwind''' was one of the very first computers; it was enormously influential, for several reasons. It was the first [[real-time]] computer, unlike all the other first-generation computers, which were intended only for large-scale computations for numerical [[application]]s. It was also the first computer with [[core memory]], which was invented for it (some time after it had first come into service; it initially used [[Williams tube\|electrostatic]] [[vacuum tube]] [[main memory]]).

	Whirlwind was built at [[MIT]] (MIT's first computer), originally for use in a flight simulator, but wound up being used to prototype the [[SAGE]] air defence system.		Whirlwind was built at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology\|MIT]] (MIT's first computer), originally for use in a flight simulator, but wound up being used to prototype the [[SAGE]] air defence system.

	It was built out of vacuum tubes, and had a [[word]] size of 16 bits. It used a predecessor to [[microcode]] for internal control [[logic]] (it used a sequence of hard-wired control words for control, effectively [[read-only memory\|ROM]], but did not include any ability to alter the order of execution thereof.)		It was built out of vacuum tubes, and had a [[word]] size of 16 bits. It used a predecessor to [[microcode]] for internal control [[logic]] (it used a sequence of hard-wired control words for control, effectively [[read-only memory\|ROM]], but did not include any ability to alter the order of [[execute\|execution]] thereof.)

	[[Instruction]]s included a 12-bit [[absolute address]]; when its [[main memory]] later exceeded that size, a [[bank switching]] mechanism had to be added. It had only a single [[register\|accumulator]], and no [[index register]]s.		[[Instruction]]s included a 12-bit [[absolute address]]; when its [[main memory]] later exceeded that size, a [[bank switching]] mechanism had to be added. It had only a single [[register\|accumulator]], and no [[index register]]s.

Jnc: /* External links */ +Whirlwind I Computer Block Diagrams

2024-03-19T17:28:46Z

External links: +Whirlwind I Computer Block Diagrams

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:28, 19 March 2024
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	* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mit/whirlwind/ Bitsavers] - large collection of material		* [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mit/whirlwind/ Bitsavers] - large collection of material
	** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mit/whirlwind/M-series/2M-0277_Whirlwind_Programming_Manual_Oct58.pdf Whirlwind Programming Manual]		** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mit/whirlwind/M-series/2M-0277_Whirlwind_Programming_Manual_Oct58.pdf Whirlwind Programming Manual]
			** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mit/whirlwind/R-series/R-127_Whirlwind_I_Computer_Block_Diagrams_Volume_1_Sep47.pdf Whirlwind I Computer Block Diagrams]
	** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mit/whirlwind/R-series/R-221_Whirlwind_I_Operational_Logic_May54.pdf Whirlwind I Operation Logic] - good, detailed overview of the internal architecture		** [http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mit/whirlwind/R-series/R-221_Whirlwind_I_Operational_Logic_May54.pdf Whirlwind I Operation Logic] - good, detailed overview of the internal architecture
	* [https://dome.mit.edu/handle/1721.3/37455 Project Whirlwind] - large collection of contemporary documents; e.g. bi-weekly progress reports		* [https://dome.mit.edu/handle/1721.3/37455 Project Whirlwind] - large collection of contemporary documents; e.g. bi-weekly progress reports

Jnc: /* Further reading */ +Project Whirlwind: The History of a Computer Pioneer

2024-02-14T19:23:46Z

Further reading: +Project Whirlwind: The History of a Computer Pioneer

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:23, 14 February 2024
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	==See also==		==See also==

	* [[~~LINC~~]] - an important descendant ~~of Whirlwind~~		* [[TX-0]] - an early important descendant
	* [[~~TX-0~~]] - ~~an earlier~~ important descendant		* [[LINC]] - another important descendant of Whirlwind

			==Further reading==

			* Kent C. Redmond, Thomas M. Smith, ''Project Whirlwind: The History of a Computer Pioneer'', Digital Press, Bedford, 1980

	==External links==		==External links==

Jnc: /* External links */ +Computer-Aided Design’s Strong Roots at MIT

2024-02-14T18:58:20Z

External links: +Computer-Aided Design’s Strong Roots at MIT

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:58, 14 February 2024
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	* [https://computerhistory.org/blog/the-whirlwind-computer-at-chm/ The Whirlwind Computer at CHM]		* [https://computerhistory.org/blog/the-whirlwind-computer-at-chm/ The Whirlwind Computer at CHM]
	* [https://computerhistory.org/blog/gambling-on-whirlwind-how-the-us-navy-spent-3-million-and-got-a-computer-game/ Gambling on Whirlwind: How the US Navy Spent $3M and got a Computer Game]		* [https://computerhistory.org/blog/gambling-on-whirlwind-how-the-us-navy-spent-3-million-and-got-a-computer-game/ Gambling on Whirlwind: How the US Navy Spent $3M and got a Computer Game]
			* [https://web.archive.org/web/20201227113758/https://www.cadhistory.net/03%20MIT%20CAD%20Roots%201945-1965.pdf Computer-Aided Design’s Strong Roots at MIT] - has a fair amount about Whirlwind

	[[Category: Early Computers]]		[[Category: Early Computers]]
	[[Category: 16-bit Computers‎]]		[[Category: 16-bit Computers‎]]
	[[Category: Unique Computers]]		[[Category: Unique Computers]]

Larsbrinkhoff: Unique.

2024-01-08T08:32:21Z

Unique.

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:32, 8 January 2024
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	[[Category: Early Computers]]		[[Category: Early Computers]]
	[[Category: 16-bit Computers‎]]		[[Category: 16-bit Computers‎]]
			[[Category: Unique Computers]]

Jnc: Better cat

2023-12-21T21:41:02Z

Better cat

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:41, 21 December 2023
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	* [https://computerhistory.org/blog/gambling-on-whirlwind-how-the-us-navy-spent-3-million-and-got-a-computer-game/ Gambling on Whirlwind: How the US Navy Spent $3M and got a Computer Game]		* [https://computerhistory.org/blog/gambling-on-whirlwind-how-the-us-navy-spent-3-million-and-got-a-computer-game/ Gambling on Whirlwind: How the US Navy Spent $3M and got a Computer Game]

	[[Category: Computers]]		[[Category: Early Computers]]
	[[Category: 16-bit Computers‎]]		[[Category: 16-bit Computers‎]]

Jnc: The first, I think!

2023-07-11T12:17:25Z

The first, I think!

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:17, 11 July 2023
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	[[Category: Computers]]		[[Category: Computers]]
			[[Category: 16-bit Computers‎]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:56, 9 April 2025
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	'''Whirlwind''' was one of the very first computers; it was enormously influential, for several reasons. It was the first [[real-time]] computer, unlike all the other first-generation computers, which were intended only for large-scale computations for numerical [[application]]s. It was also the first computer with [[core memory]], which was invented for it (some time after it had first come into service; it initially used [[Williams tube\|electrostatic]] [[vacuum tube]] [[main memory]]).		'''Whirlwind''' was one of the very first computers; it was enormously influential, for several reasons. It was the first [[real-time]] computer, unlike all the other first-generation computers, which were intended only for large-scale computations for numerical [[application]]s. It was also the first computer with [[core memory]], which was invented for it (some time after it had first come into service; it initially used [[Williams tube\|electrostatic]] [[vacuum tube]] [[main memory]]).

	Whirlwind was built at [[MIT]] (MIT's first computer), originally for use in a flight simulator, but wound up being used to prototype the [[SAGE]] air defence system.		Whirlwind was built at [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology\|MIT]] (MIT's first computer), originally for use in a flight simulator, but wound up being used to prototype the [[SAGE]] air defence system.

	It was built out of vacuum tubes, and had a [[word]] size of 16 bits. It used a predecessor to [[microcode]] for internal control [[logic]] (it used a sequence of hard-wired control words for control, effectively [[read-only memory\|ROM]], but did not include any ability to alter the order of execution thereof.)		It was built out of vacuum tubes, and had a [[word]] size of 16 bits. It used a predecessor to [[microcode]] for internal control [[logic]] (it used a sequence of hard-wired control words for control, effectively [[read-only memory\|ROM]], but did not include any ability to alter the order of [[execute\|execution]] thereof.)

	[[Instruction]]s included a 12-bit [[absolute address]]; when its [[main memory]] later exceeded that size, a [[bank switching]] mechanism had to be added. It had only a single [[register\|accumulator]], and no [[index register]]s.		[[Instruction]]s included a 12-bit [[absolute address]]; when its [[main memory]] later exceeded that size, a [[bank switching]] mechanism had to be added. It had only a single [[register\|accumulator]], and no [[index register]]s.