Difference between revisions of "Symbolics"
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| − | '''Symbolics''' was a start-up spinoff of the [[MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory|MIT AI Lab]] founded in 1980, whose goal was to build and sell [[LISP machine]]s. It had a moderately successful run, but after internal dissension and some poor business decisions, it went bankrupt in 1996. | + | '''Symbolics''' was a start-up spinoff of the [[MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory|MIT AI Lab]], founded in 1980, whose goal was to build and sell [[LISP machine]]s. It had a moderately successful run, but after internal dissension and some poor business decisions, it went bankrupt in 1996. |
During its lifetime, Symbolics produced 4 generations of hardware: | During its lifetime, Symbolics produced 4 generations of hardware: | ||
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* the L-Machines (models 3600, 3670, 3640, 3675 and 3645); built out of stock [[transistor-transistor logic|TTL]] | * the L-Machines (models 3600, 3670, 3640, 3675 and 3645); built out of stock [[transistor-transistor logic|TTL]] | ||
* the G-machines (models 3650, 3620, 3630, 3619); built from custom [[gate array]]s | * the G-machines (models 3650, 3620, 3630, 3619); built from custom [[gate array]]s | ||
| − | * the I-machines (standalone: XL400, XL1200, XL1201 and NXP1000; Sun: UX400, UX1200; [[Macintosh]]: MacIvory I, II, III); custom [[integrated circuit|ICs]] | + | * the I-machines (standalone: XL400, XL1200, XL1201 and NXP1000; [[Sun Microsystems|Sun]]-based: UX400, UX1200; [[Macintosh]]-based: MacIvory I, II, III); custom [[integrated circuit|ICs]]) |
Technically, what doomed specialized LISP machines was the fact that stock [[microprocessor]]s sped up to such a degree that even the specialized support available in the low-production-volume custom [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]] of the LISP machine (tagged data types; [[garbage collection]]) left them unable to keep up. | Technically, what doomed specialized LISP machines was the fact that stock [[microprocessor]]s sped up to such a degree that even the specialized support available in the low-production-volume custom [[Central Processing Unit|CPU]] of the LISP machine (tagged data types; [[garbage collection]]) left them unable to keep up. | ||
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* [http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/symbolics/ Symbolics] - documentation at [[Bitsavers]] | * [http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/symbolics/ Symbolics] - documentation at [[Bitsavers]] | ||
| + | * [http://symbolics-dks.com/ Symbolics] - current company's site | ||
| + | * [https://www.bogodyne.com/ Bogodyne Metatechnics] - hard to describe; go look ("preserve the past and secure the future of ZetaLisp development") | ||
* [https://smbx.org/ Symbolics Lisp Machine Museum] | * [https://smbx.org/ Symbolics Lisp Machine Museum] | ||
** [https://smbx.org/symbolics-hardware/ Symbolics Hardware] | ** [https://smbx.org/symbolics-hardware/ Symbolics Hardware] | ||
** [https://smbx.org/symbolics-technical-summary/ Symbolics Technical Summary] | ** [https://smbx.org/symbolics-technical-summary/ Symbolics Technical Summary] | ||
| − | * [https://www. | + | * [https://www.chai.uni-hamburg.de/~moeller/symbolics-info/ Symbolics] - much Symbolics material |
| + | ** Eve M. Phillips, [https://www.chai.uni-hamburg.de/~moeller/symbolics-info/ai-business.pdf ''If It Works, It’s Not AI: A Commercial Look at Artificial Intelligence Startups''], 1999 - Master's thesis; Symbolics is covered on pp. 60-64 of the PDF | ||
| + | ** Alvin Graylin, Kari Anne Hoier Kjolaas, Jonathan Loflin, Jimmie D. Walker III, [https://www.chai.uni-hamburg.de/~moeller/symbolics-info/Symbolics.pdf ''Symbolics, Inc.: A failure of heterogeneous engineering''], 1998 - student paper; has some errors, but interesting ("if you are interested in what happened to Symbolics, it’s a must-read") <!-- https://web.archive.org/web/20060811192145/https://web.mit.edu/6.933/www/Symbolics.pdf --> | ||
| + | * [https://danluu.com/symbolics-lisp-machines/ Dan Weinreb's comments on Symbolics and Lisp machines] - interesting posts from Dan Weinreb, a founder of Symbolics and leading light in LISP machines <!-- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080614223925/https://dlweinreb.wordpress.com/2007/11/16/why-did-symbolics-fail/ Why Did Symbolics Fail?] --> | ||
| − | [[Category: Manufacturers]] | + | [[Category: Computer Manufacturers]] |
| + | [[Category: PDP-10 Users]] | ||
Latest revision as of 10:33, 27 September 2025
Symbolics was a start-up spinoff of the MIT AI Lab, founded in 1980, whose goal was to build and sell LISP machines. It had a moderately successful run, but after internal dissension and some poor business decisions, it went bankrupt in 1996.
During its lifetime, Symbolics produced 4 generations of hardware:
- the LM-2, a slightly improved and repackaged CADR, intended as an interim product
- the L-Machines (models 3600, 3670, 3640, 3675 and 3645); built out of stock TTL
- the G-machines (models 3650, 3620, 3630, 3619); built from custom gate arrays
- the I-machines (standalone: XL400, XL1200, XL1201 and NXP1000; Sun-based: UX400, UX1200; Macintosh-based: MacIvory I, II, III); custom ICs)
Technically, what doomed specialized LISP machines was the fact that stock microprocessors sped up to such a degree that even the specialized support available in the low-production-volume custom CPU of the LISP machine (tagged data types; garbage collection) left them unable to keep up.
External links
- Symbolics - documentation at Bitsavers
- Symbolics - current company's site
- Bogodyne Metatechnics - hard to describe; go look ("preserve the past and secure the future of ZetaLisp development")
- Symbolics Lisp Machine Museum
- Symbolics - much Symbolics material
- Eve M. Phillips, If It Works, It’s Not AI: A Commercial Look at Artificial Intelligence Startups, 1999 - Master's thesis; Symbolics is covered on pp. 60-64 of the PDF
- Alvin Graylin, Kari Anne Hoier Kjolaas, Jonathan Loflin, Jimmie D. Walker III, Symbolics, Inc.: A failure of heterogeneous engineering, 1998 - student paper; has some errors, but interesting ("if you are interested in what happened to Symbolics, it’s a must-read")
- Dan Weinreb's comments on Symbolics and Lisp machines - interesting posts from Dan Weinreb, a founder of Symbolics and leading light in LISP machines
