Difference between revisions of "CADR"
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[[Image:CADRmachine.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A CADR]] | [[Image:CADRmachine.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A CADR]] | ||
− | The '''CADR''' was the first successful [[LISP machine]], built by the [[MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory|MIT AI Lab]] as a follow-on to the prototype [[CONS]] machine. | + | The '''CADR''' was the first successful [[LISP machine]], built by the [[MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory|MIT AI Lab]] as a follow-on to the prototype [[CONS]] machine. Production apparently started in 1978; as of December, 1978, four were operational. |
Physically, the [[microcode]]d [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]] was a single huge [[wire-wrap]] swing-out bay mounted in the front of an [[H960 rack]]. A separate [[backplane]] held [[main memory]] cards, [[input/output|I/O]] cards, etc. | Physically, the [[microcode]]d [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]] was a single huge [[wire-wrap]] swing-out bay mounted in the front of an [[H960 rack]]. A separate [[backplane]] held [[main memory]] cards, [[input/output|I/O]] cards, etc. | ||
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+ | Many were produced by the AI Lab; several startups (including [[Symbolics]] and [[LMI]]) produced direct descendants. | ||
[[Image:Knight-keyboard.png|thumb|left|150px|The Knight keyboard was used with the MIT-AI [[Incompatible Timesharing System|ITS]] machine and CADRs; this is a rendition of the layout]] | [[Image:Knight-keyboard.png|thumb|left|150px|The Knight keyboard was used with the MIT-AI [[Incompatible Timesharing System|ITS]] machine and CADRs; this is a rendition of the layout]] | ||
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* [http://www.unlambda.com/index.php?n=Main.Cadr Retrocomputing - MIT CADR Lisp Machines] - includes emulator, complete sources, and bootable disk images | * [http://www.unlambda.com/index.php?n=Main.Cadr Retrocomputing - MIT CADR Lisp Machines] - includes emulator, complete sources, and bootable disk images | ||
* [https://tumbleweed.nu/lm-3/ LM-3 --- resurrecting the MIT CADR] - contains much interesting historical material, as well as current simulation work | * [https://tumbleweed.nu/lm-3/ LM-3 --- resurrecting the MIT CADR] - contains much interesting historical material, as well as current simulation work | ||
+ | ** Tom Knight, [https://tumbleweed.nu/r/lm-3/uv/knight-thesis.html Implementation of a List Processing Machine], January, 1979 - Knight's PhD thesis; covers the hardware and the macroprocessor which the standard microcode implements <!-- https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/16033 --> | ||
** [https://tumbleweed.nu/lm-3/history.html Lisp Machine System Release History] | ** [https://tumbleweed.nu/lm-3/history.html Lisp Machine System Release History] | ||
** [https://tumbleweed.nu/lm-3/lmman-editions.html Lisp Machine Manual Editions] | ** [https://tumbleweed.nu/lm-3/lmman-editions.html Lisp Machine Manual Editions] |
Latest revision as of 19:18, 22 September 2025
The CADR was the first successful LISP machine, built by the MIT AI Lab as a follow-on to the prototype CONS machine. Production apparently started in 1978; as of December, 1978, four were operational.
Physically, the microcoded CPU was a single huge wire-wrap swing-out bay mounted in the front of an H960 rack. A separate backplane held main memory cards, I/O cards, etc.
Many were produced by the AI Lab; several startups (including Symbolics and LMI) produced direct descendants.

The Knight keyboard was used with the MIT-AI ITS machine and CADRs; this is a rendition of the layout
External links
- CADR - AI Memo 528
- CADR - Bitsavers
- cadr2/mit/ - much MIT CADR material
- Retrocomputing - MIT CADR Lisp Machines - includes emulator, complete sources, and bootable disk images
- LM-3 --- resurrecting the MIT CADR - contains much interesting historical material, as well as current simulation work
- Tom Knight, Implementation of a List Processing Machine, January, 1979 - Knight's PhD thesis; covers the hardware and the macroprocessor which the standard microcode implements
- Lisp Machine System Release History
- Lisp Machine Manual Editions
- CADR LISP machine - from Paul Allen's collection at the LCM, includes several images
- Images