Intel iAPX-432 MicromainframeIntel iAPX-432 MicromainframeIn 1981, Intel announced a revolutionary new microprocessor family called theiAPX-432 MicroMainframe. The iAPX-432 had a very advanced capability-basedarchitecture, with hardware and microcode support for multitasking,multiprocessing, and fault tolerance.Initially the family consisted of a two-chipGeneral Data Processor, and a single-chip Interface Processor. LaterIntel added a Bus Interface Unit and a Memory Control Unit.A brief introduction to the iAPX-432 may be found in theCS 460 Final Project report by David King, Liang Zhou, Jon Bryson, and David Dickson. More detail is available in Chapter 9 of Capabiliy-Based Computer Systems by Henry M. Levy.In the early days of Usenet, the newsgroup "net.micro.432" was devoted todiscussion of the iAPX-432. Never a high-volume newsgroup, it was probablylost in the Great Renaming of 1985.Unfortunately the raw computing performance of the iAPX-432 proved to bebelow that of competing microprocessors, and Intel discontinued theiAPX-432 product line in 1986.Nowdays it's very difficult to find detailed technical information onthe iAPX-432. Intel received about fifteenUS patents relating to the iAPX-432, but muchof the technical details such as the object data structures and instructionset changed between the time of the patent application and customershipment. So while they're not as accurate as the official architecturemanuals, they are at least generally similar to the release 1architecture, and provide some details that were never available elsewhere,such as the internal microarchitecture of the GDP and IP.Although many companies evaluated the iAPX-432, as far as I know the onlycommercial product offering based on the iAPX-432 from any company otherthan Intel was a board set for Multibus systems from the English companyHigh Integrity Systems. HIS also contracted with Intel to continue thedevelopment and maintenance of the Ada compiler. Index WANTED! --Components --Packaging --Releases --Documentation --Hardware --Software --Books --Papers --Theses --Web Pages --Humor WANTED! Any iAPX-432 chips, boards, systems, software,manuals, schematics, documentation, archives of the net.micro.432 newsgroup,or anything else 432 related.Even if I already have a particular piece of documentation or software,I'd like to get other versions of it, as different software versionsand documentation editions supported different releases of the components.Software development on the 432 also required the following items,which I'm also looking for:iSBC 86/14 or iSBC 86/30 Intel System 86/380iRMX-86 operating systemPLM/86 compiler (either for the Series III or the native iRMX-86 version)At a minimum, I'm willing to pay postage and/or copying costs. If you canlend me materials to copy, I'll pay postage both ways. I'm willing topurchase hardware or trade for it.Eventually I hope to secure permission from Intel to scan the documentationand redistribute docs and software on the web to any interested parties.Note: in the lists and tables below, that I do not actually have any of theitems unless specifically noted. Components Initially Intel introduced three iAPX 432 components, the 43201 and 43202which together formed a General Data Processor (GDP), and the single-chip43203 Interface Processor (IP).Much of the press surrounding the introduction of the iAPX 432 made it soundlike it was a three-chip processor, and quoted a combined transistor countfor the three chips. However, this doesn't really make sense since therewas no particular relationship between the number of GDPs and the number ofIPs in a system.In 1983 Intel introduced the 43203 Bus Interface Unit (BIU) which acts asa crossbar switch, and the 43204 Memory Control Unit (MCU). These componentsmade it much easier to build large fault-tolerant systems with multiplememory busses.One of Intel's published papers on the iAPX 432 suggests that the initialobjective for the clock rate was 10 MHz (for the IP at least). However, theearliest components actually were shipped with a 4 MHz speed grade. Theofficial speed grades were eventually 5, 7, and 8 MHz.iAPX 432 Component Pricing, Early 1984 part number description price, quantity 1K, early 1984 5 MHz 7 MHz 8 MHz 43201/43202 General Data Processor $169 $295 $521 43203 Interface Processor $90 $158 $225 43204 Bus Interface Unit $49 $86 $122 43205 Memory Control Unit $108 $190 $271The 432 components were among the first to be fabricated using Intel's"HMOS" high-density NMOS process. The 432 used several innovative designconcepts:barrel shifter with polysilicon select lines at a 45 degree angle, used for instruction bit-field extraction in the 43201high-performance dynamic AND gate across a wide area with perpendicular metal bussingLRU replacement controllerdouble-ended operand queues that can operate as either FIFOs or stackstwo bit per cell ROM, used for microcode storage in the 8087 and 43203iAPX 432 Component Design Information part number die size (mils) device placements actual devices 43201 318 x 323 110K 60K 43202 366 x 313 49K 37K 43203 358 x 326 60K 49K 43204 285 x ? 65K 43205 340 x ? 84K Packaging The iAPX 432 components were initially offered in aceramic leadless QUIP package, butlater Intel switched to a JEDEC-standard 68-contactleadless chip carrier. Releases The 432 architecture went through three major releases. Theprocessor components were reissued for each architectural release, andfor "dot" releases to correct bugs.Release 1 of the components was somewhat buggy. Some features were completelyunusable (e.g., process time-slicing, the "insert ordinal" instruction).This release was used on the iSBC 432/100 evaluation boards to runObject Programming Language (OPL) and Object Builder.Release 2 made various minor architectural changes needed to support faultrecovery, and fixed most of the bugs of Release 1.Release 3 was a major architectural change intended to improve performance.The biggest change is that every memory segment could have both a dataand an access part, so there is no longer a distinction as to the "base type"of a segment (data or access). Many objects that formerly needed two memorysegments (one access and one data) now only need one. 432 Component Releases Release Date Notes 1.1 2.0 2.1 3.2 August 1983 3.3 Believed to be the final internal release. AFAIK, it was not shipped to customers, but was used in-house at Intel and Siemens for software development for the P7/Gemini/BiiN operating system (code-named Osiris). Documentation have copy order number date title notes 121565 Mainframe Link for Distributed Development User's Guide 171773 iSBC 432/100 Processor Board Schematic Diagram 171819-001 Getting Started on the Intellec 432/100 * 171819-003, Rev. C Getting Started on the Intellec 432/100 * 171820-001 iSBC 432/100 Processor Board Hardware Reference Manual * 171821-001 Introduction to the iAPX 432 Architecture 171823-001 Object Programming Language User's Manual * 171823-002, Rev. B Object Programming Language User's Manual 171826 iSBC 432/100 Processor Board Assembly Drawing * 171858-001 Rev. B The iAPX 432 Object Primer 171859-001 Object Builder User's Guide * 171859-003 Rev. C Object Builder User's Guide * 171860-001 January 1981 iAPX 432 General Data Processor Architecture Reference Manual Preliminary, Release 1.0 GDP components, phone-book edition 171860-002 October 1981 iAPX 432 General Data Processor Architecture Reference Manual Advance partial issue, revised for Release 2.0 GDP components 171860-002 February 16, 1982 iAPX 432 General Data Processor Architecture Reference Manual 171860-003 October 1982 iAPX 432 General Data Processor Architecture Reference Manual Advance partial issue, revised for Release 3.0 GDP components photocopy 171860-004 January 1984 iAPX 432 General Data Processor Architecture Reference Manual Completed manual for Release 3.2 GDP Components * 171861-001 System 432/600 32-Bit Extensible Computer System data sheet * 171863-001 April 1981 iAPX 432 Interface Processor Architecture Reference Manual Partial Issue * 171863-001 July 1981 iAPX 432 Interface Processor Architecture Reference Manual Release 1.1 Components 171863-002 December 1981 iAPX 432 Interface Processor Architecture Reference Manual Update of terminology; correction of errata 171863-003 December 1981 iAPX 432 Interface Processor Architecture Reference Manual Update for release 2.0 and 2.1 components 171863-003 August 1982 iAPX 432 Interface Processor Architecture Reference Manual Integration of Change Sets 1 and 2 into manual photocopy 171863-004 January 1984 iAPX 432 Interface Processor Architecture Reference Manual Update for release 3.0 Components 171866-001 iMAX 432 Advance Information Sheet 171867-001 Intel 432 System Summary, Manager's Perspective 171868-001 Intellec Series III/432 Development System Data Sheet 171869-001 Reference Manual for the Ada Programming Language * 171869-002 Reference Manual for the Ada Programming Language includes Intel's Appendix F 171870-001 Intel 432 Cross Development System VAX Host User's Guide * 171871-001 Engineering Specifications for the iAPX 432 Extensions to Ada obsoleted by "Reference Manual for the iAPX 432 Extensions to Ada" * 171873-001 Rev. A iAPX 43201 iAPX 43202 VLSI General Data Processor data sheet preliminary 171873-002 iAPX 43201 iAPX 43202 VLSI General Data Processor data sheet obsoleted by order number 590125? * 171874-001 Rev. A iAPX 43203 VLSI Interface Processor data sheet preliminary 171874-002 iAPX 43203 VLSI Interface Processor data sheet preliminary obsoleted by order number 590130? 171954-001 Introduction to the Intel 432 Cross Development System * 171963-001 INTELLEC 432/100 Evaluation and Education System data sheet 172040 iAPX 43201/43202 Component Errata Sheet 172043 Problem Report Form 172097 Intel 432 Cross Development System Workstation Reference Manual * 172098-001 System 432/600 System Reference Manual 172099-001 System 432/600 Diagnostic Software User's Guide 172100 System 432/600 Hardware Reference Manual Volume 1 172101 System 432/600 Installation and Maintenance Manual 172103 iMAX 432 Reference Manual 172172 System 432/600 Hardware Reference Manual Volume 2 172174 Asynchronous Communication Link User's Guide * 172283-001 Reference Manual for the iAPX 432 Extensions to Ada draft 172283-002 Reference Manual for the iAPX 432 Extensions to Ada 172299-001 iAPX 432 Interface Processor Architecture Reference Manual change package 1 172300-001 iAPX 432 Interface Processor Architecture Reference Manual change package 2 photocopy 172487-001 December 1982 iAPX 432 Interconnect Architecture Reference Manual 172866 iAPX 43204/43205 Data Sheet obsoleted by order number 210963? * 172867-001 Electrical Specifications for iAPX 43204 BIU and iAPX 43205 MCU (preliminary) 210963-001 Rev. A iAPX 43204 iAPX 43205 Fault Tolerant Bus Interface and Memory Control Units data sheet preliminary 590125 iAPX 43201/43202 General Data Processor Data Sheet 590130 iAPX 43203 Interface Processor Data Sheet photocopy of draft iAPX 432 Components User's Guide photocopy September 1981 432 Architecture Workshop Version 2.5Precise document names unknown: CDS-432 Cross Development System data sheet DEBUG-432 Reference Manual External Object Description (EOD) file format mechanical specifications for QUIP packageArticle reprints: have copy order number title author publication date * AR-166 Understand the Newest Processor to Avoid Future Shock Jack Hemenway and Robert Grappel EDN April 29, 1981 photocopy AR-282, 230711-001 Two chips endow 32-bit processor with fault-tolerant architecture C. B. Peterson et al. Electronics April 7, 1983 photocopy AR-283, 230721-001 Intel iAPX 432 -- VLSI building blocks for a fault-tolerant computer Dave Johnson, Dave Budde, Dave Carson, and Craig Peterson AFIPS 1983 National Computer Conference Proceedings July 1983 Hardware Evaluation Board part number name 171958-xxx iSBC 432/100System 432/600 Building Blocks Category part number description quantity included in System 432/670 Data Processor Modules SBC 432/601 General Data Processor board 2 I/O Modules SBC 432/602 Interface Processor board 1 SBC 432/603 Interface Processor Link board 1 Memory Modules SBC 432/604 Memory Controller board 1 SBC 432/606 128 Kbyte dynamic RAM storage board with ECC 0 SBC 432/607 256 Kbyte dynamic RAM storage board with ECC 2 Backplanes SBC 432/610 6 slot system bus backplane (3 processor, 1 memory controller, 2 memory) 0 SBC 432/611 12 slot system bus backplane (5 processor, 1 memory controller, 6 memory) 1 SBC 432/612 18 slot system bus backplane (6 processor, 1 memory controller, 10 memory, 1 test/monitor) 0 SBC 432/615 6 slot MULTIBUS backplane 1 SBC 432/616 12 slot MULTIBUS backplane 0 Cardcages SBC 432/620 6 slot cardcage 0 SBC 432/621 12 slot cardcage 0 SBC 432/622 18 slot cardcage 0 Chassis SBC 432/630 Enclosed, powered, and cooled chassis with 18 slot cardcage 1 Accessories SBC 432/635 System bus extender card 0 SBC 432/636 Interfae processor link cable kit (external, shielded) SBC 432/637 Interfae processor link cable kit (internal, ribbon) SBC 432/638 Interfae processor link cable kit (external, 6 ft. shielded)The System 432/670 includes 432/600-series products as listed above, andalso an iSBC 86/12A card to serve as an Attached Processor, an iSBC 340EPROM daughterboard (16 Kbyte), and an iSBC 300 DRAM daughterboard(32 Kbyte).I have two iSBC-432/100 evaluation boards, but they are missing all of thesocketed chips, including the 43201 and 43202 GDP chips. They're alsomissing the retaining clips for the QUIP packages. And I don't have anyof the software for the 432/100.I have a single iSBC-432/602 IP board with a release 2.1 IP chip (43203),but it is tagged "temperature sensitive".And I have a large wire-wrapped board which is alleged to be the wire-wrappedbreadboard prototype implementation of the 432 GDP (from before the two-chipimplementation as the 43201 and 43202). I don't have any authoritativeconfirmation (other than the seller's word) that this is what the board reallyis, but it contains a lot of 82S100 FPLAs, so it seems plausible. The boardis still in Oregon, but I'll try to get a photo of it the next time I'm there.Note that building breadboard prototypes of microprocessors went out ofstyle in the early eighties, because the chips were getting so complex thatit would take longer to debug the prototype. Instead, the industry hasincreasingly relied on simulation.The 432 developers used separate architectural, microcode, logic,and circuit-level simulation tools developed in-house on a DECsystem-10. Software Evaluation: have copy order number title 172000-xxx OPL-432 system files, single density 172002-xxx OPL-432 workspace files, single density 172001-xxx OPL-432 system files, double density 172003-xxx OPL-432 workspace files, double densityCross Development System - written in Pascal for DEC VAX host running either VMS or BSD Unix: Ada Compiler System (ACS) LINK-432 Asynchronous Communications Link (ACL)Series III Development System - written in PL/M-86: System 432/600 Diagnostics DEBUG-432 Object Builder (for SBC 432/100) Object Programming Language (OPL) (for SBC 432/100)Native - written in Ada: iMAX-432 Operating SystemCurrently I have images of the following official release tapes:ACS 1.0 for VMSACS 2.3 with LINK-432, for Unix, partial (start of tape was bad)iMAX-432 version 3.3and these unofficial tapes:an unofficial copy of ACS 1.0 and LINK432 (1.0?) for VMS an unofficial collection of the BSD versions of Asynchronous Link version 1.01 Ada compiler version 1.01 LINK-432 version 1.01 iMAX-432 version 2.01 Wanted: any 432 software of any kind or version, but expecially:ACS 2.3 for Unix, a complete copyACS 2.7 for UnixDEBUG-432432/670 diagnosticsOPL-432 and Object Builder Books [Organick, 1983]. Elliott Organick, A Programmer's View of the Intel 432 System, McGraw-Hill, New York, N.Y., 1983.Myers, Glenford J., Advances in Computer Architecture, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y., 1982, pp. 335-340, 344, 366, 371Levy, Henry M., Capability-Based Computer Systems, Digital Press, 1984 Papers Justin R. Rattner, William W. Lattin: "Ada Determines Architecture of 32-bit Microprocessor," Electronics, Vol 4 No 54, 24 February 1981, pp. 119-126Justin R. Rattner: "Hardware/Software Cooperation in the iAPX-432," Proceedings of the Symposium on Architectural Support For Programming Languages and Operating Systems, March 1-3, 1982: p. 1Fred J. Pollack, George W. Cox, Dan W. Hammerstrom, Kevin C. Kahn, Konrad K. Lai, Justin R. Rattner: "Supporting Ada Memory Management in the iAPX-432," Proceedings of the Symposium on Architectural Support For Programming Languages and Operating Systems, March 1-3, 1982: pp. 117-131 George W. Cox, William M. Corwin, Konrad K. Lai, Fred J. Pollack: "A Unified Model and Implementation for Interprocess Communication in a Multiprocessor Environment," Proceedings of the Eighth Symposium on Operating System Principles, 14-16 December 1981, pp. 125-126Kevin C. Kahn: "A Small-Scale Operating System Foundation for Microprocessor Applications," Proceedings of the IEEE, Vol. 66 No. 2, February 1978Kevin C. Kahn, William M. Corwin, T. Don Dennis, Herman D'Hooge, David E. Hubka, Linda A. Hutchins, John T. Montague, Fred J. Pollack "iMAX: A Multiprocessor Operating System for an Object-Based Computer," Proceedings of the Eighth Symposium on Operating System Principles, 14-16 December 1981, pp. 127-136 Kevin C. Kahn, Fred J. Pollack: "An Extensible Operating System for the Intel 432," Proceedings Compcon Spring 1981, February 1981, pp. 398-404Fred J. Pollack, Kevin C. Kahn, Roy M. Wilkinsom: "The iMAX-432 Object Filing System," Proceedings of the Eighth Symposium on Operating System Principles, 14-16 December 1981, pp. 137-147Kevin C. Kahn: "Object-Oriented Languages Tackle Massive Programming Headaches," Electronics, 17 November 1982George W. Cox, William M. Corwin, Konrad K. Lai, Fred J. Pollack: "Interprocess Communication and Processor Dispatching on the Intel 432," ACM Transactions on Computer Systems, Volume 1, Number 1, February 1983 pp 45-66S. Zeigler, N. Allegre, R Johnson, J. Morris, "Ada for the Intel 432 Microcomputer," IEEE Computer, Vol. 14 Number 6, June 1981, pp. 47-56S. Ziegler, N. Allegre, D. Coar, R. Johnson, J. Morris, G. Burns: "The Intel 432 Ada Programming Environment," Proceedings Compcon Spring 1981, February 1981, pp. 405-410R. Johnson: "The Intel iAPX-432: An Architecture for Ada," Proceedings of the Symposium on High-Level Computer Architecture, October 1981D. Johnson: "The Intel 432: a VLSI Architecture for fault-tolerant computer systems.", Computer, New York, 17(8):40-48, Aug. 1984Colley et al, "The object-based architecture of the Intel 432, CbMPCON (Feb. 1981)R. Ebersole: "Designing a High-Performance Bus for a Multiprocessor System," Phoenix Conference on Computers and Communications, May 1982D. Kinder: "Transparent Multiprocessing Boosts µC Throughput," Electronic Design News, April 15, 1982D. Kinder: "Ada, iMAX, and Intel's iAPX 432," Annual Conference Proceedings for Associazione Italiana Per Il Calcolo Automatico, October 1982M.J. McGowan: "The Information Management Capabilities of the iAPX 432 Processor," Computer Technology Review, Summer 1982R. Kaiser: "The 432 Micromainframe Architecture," Proceedings of the 35th Conference of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Aerospace, September 1981H.I. Jacob: "An Architecture for the 80's--The Intel iAPX-432," Proceedings of Midcon '81, November 1981Paul M. Hansen, Mark A. Linton, Robert N. Mayo, Marguerite Murphy, and David A. Patterson: "A Performance Evaluation of the Intel iAPX 432", Computer Architecture News, June 1982. I.H. Witten, J.G. Cleary: "An introduction to the architecture of the Intel iAPX 432," Software and Microsystems, 2(2) 29-34, April 1983Robert P. Colwell, Edward F. Gehringer, and Doug Jensen, "Performance Effects of Architectural Complexity in the Intel 432," ACM Transactions on Computer Systems, vol. 6, no. 3, August 1988, pp. 296-339.Edward F. Gehringer and Robert P. Colwell, "Fast Object-Oriented Procedure Calls: Lessons From the Intel 432," 13th Annual Symposium on Computer Architecture, Tokyo, 1986, pp. 92-101.K. U. Hellmold: Modell zur Simulation eines Multiprozessorsystems auf der Basis von Intel Prozessoren - IAPX432 und einem Kreuzschienenverteiler für die Speicherkopplung, Messung, Modellierung und Bewertung von Rechensystemen (MMB), 2. GI/NTG-Fachtagung, Stuttgart, 21.-23. February 1983, pp. 366-381Xiao-Zong Yang, Gary York, William P. Birmingham, Daniel P. Siewiorek: "Fault Recovery of Triplicated Software on the Intel iAPX 432," Proceeding of the 5th International Conference on Distributed Computing Systems, Denver, Colorado, May 13-17, 1985, IEEE-CS Press, 1985, ISBN 0-8186-0617-7 pp. 438-443 Guy Almes, A. Borning, and E. Messinger: "Implementing a Smalltalk-80 system on the Intel 432," In Krasner [Smalltalk-Bits of History, Words of Advice], pages 175-187.R. Fabry, "Capabiltiy Based Addressing," Communications of the ACM Vol. 17, 1974, pages 403-412. L. Ciminiera, A. Valenzano: "Efficient Authentication Mechanisms Using the iAPX-432," Interfaces in Computing, Vol. 3, 1985, pp. 111-124L. Ciminiera, A. Valenzano: "iAPX 432 Hardware Fault-Handling Mechanisms," Software and Microsystems, Vol. 3, No. 3, June 1984, pp. 67-74"Ada Lessons from Programming the iMAX 432 Operating System," Proceedings for the National Topical Conference on Using Ada -- A New Era in Adaptable, Reliable Software, June 1983"Ada and the Intel iAPX 432", Proceedings for the National Topical Conference on Using Ada -- A New Era in Adaptable, Reliable Software, June 1983Roger Alan Cooper: "Generating an out-the-window cockpit image with the iAPX 432, 1982, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force BaseG. Cattaneo, V. Piuri, N. Scarabottolo, F. Urero, "CHILL concurrency on Intel iAPX 432 architecture", Microprocessing and Microprogramming - The EUROMICRO Journal, North-Holland, vol. 15, n. 5, 1985, pp. 233-251W. Hoffman, A. Lehmann, "Leistungsfähigkeit von Mehrprozessorsystemen mit iAPX 432-Prozessoren, Kreuzschienenverteiler und Pufferspeichern", Informatik-Fahbericht Nr. 78: Architektur und Betrieb von Rechen-systemen, 8, GI/NTG-Fachtagung, Springer Verlag, März 1984 Theses Robert Paul Colwell, "The Performance Effects of Functional Migration and Architectural Complexity in Object-Oriented Systems", CMU-CS-85-159, August 1985Dwayne Phillips, "Image Processing with the Ada Programming Language and the Intel iAPX 432 Microprocessor", Master's Thesis, Louisiana State University, December 1984 Web Pages Intel iAPX 432 Computer Science 460 Final Project, Group 4: David King, Liang Zhou, Jon Bryson, David Dickson, April 15, 1999iAPX 432 information in DutchOPL 432 was a Smalltalk dialect by Rosetta, Inc.Eden Node Machine, 1982What Ever Happened to... Intel's Dream Chip? by John C. Dvorak, February 1997 Humor It is lucky for all of us that Intel's 432 processor project never made itback in the early eighties. Otherwise a really horrible Intel architecturemight have taken over the world. Whew!-- Steve FriedlFrom: jones@pyrite.cs.uiowa.edu (,,,)Subject: Roswell's impact on Computer Science (Was: Bell Labs) Date: 11 Dec 1997 00:00:00 GMTMessage-ID: <66p2gl$o2c$1@flood.weeg.uiowa.edu>References: <connorbd-1112971048120001@st202x229.bc.edu>Organization: The University of IowaNewsgroups: alt.folklore.computers> > >but the> >military was actually able to boot some of the surviving alien computers.> >Since Bell Labs had extensive capabilities in computer analysis, the alien> >computers were sent there.>> What processor did the alien computers use? What kind of storage did they> have?I spent some time at Bell Labs (Department 1227 (old numbersing system),Murray Hill), and I still have occasional contacts in that world. Myunderstanding is that the computers from the Roswell New Mexico crashare very similar to the Pentium, and that the OS they run is very closeto being a version of Windows.As I understand the Roswell story, nobody could even begin the reverseengineering efforts until we had scanning electron microscope technology,and then, the chips were totally incomprehensible until the early 1970's.Fortunately, this was shortly after the UNIX design was set in stone,and it took years to reverse engineer enough of the chip architectureto begin work on disassembling the OS code.Some of the alumni of this project joined Intel shortly after the IAPX 432hit the streets, and their arrival with what management interpreted as anadvanced design was what drove Intel to abandon research on moderncapability-based computer architectures and concentrate instead on thebizarrely irrational x86 family of architectures. The fabricationtechnology reverse engineered from the Roswell chips was indeed advanced,but the architectural fallout is another matter!By the mid 1980's, the funding for continuing the reconstruction of theRoswell OS dried up, and the programmers from that project had to lookelsewhere for work. Some of these programmers were snapped up byMicrosoft for work on the system that eventually was named Windows 95.Overall, I'd estimate that the fallout of the reverse engineering effortson the Roswell microprocessors have set computer science in the unitedstates back a good 20 years. Too many good people have spent too manyyears of their lives attempting to deal with these truly screwy machines.No wonder the starships they ran crashed at Roswell! The technology ofthese machines may have been advanced, but the alien designers of thesemachines were not good engineers and had a very bad notion of top-leveldesign! Doug Jones jones@cs.uiowa.edu  Back to my Retrocomputing page  Back to my home page Last updated January 21, 2005Copyright 1999, 2000, 2001, 2005 Eric Smitheric@brouhaha.com check now |
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