Autocoder
Autocoder is a low-level computer programming language of the IBM Mainframe Systems 1401 .
The IBM mainframe system 1401 was the immediate predecessor of the current IBM mainframe systems (/ 360, / 370, / 390, 43xx etc.) co-developed by Gene Amdahl and was one of the first usable computer generations. Before that there were only tabulating machines that were programmed with retractable plug-in boards, which in plain language meant “pulling the strings” - as was the case with the punch card translators (punch card inscribers) that were used until the 1980s .
The successor systems (/ 360 etc.) had an autocoder emulator , so the software did not need to be rewritten and could be used for a long time.
A similar programming language called Easycoder existed on Honeywell computers. Both systems were 6-bit machines, that is, a memory location could represent a maximum of 64 different characters. That was enough for the digits, the capital letters and the special characters that were printable at the time.
literature
- IBM manual data processing system IBM 1401 - Autocoder IBM Form 74856-3. IBM-Germany, DP system support 1401 from September 1963.
Web links
- Columbia University via the IBM 1401 and Autocoder
- 1401 Shrine ( Memento from March 17, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
- Scan of an autocoder opcode list at 1401 Shrine ( Memento from March 17th, 2008 in the Internet Archive )