Maestro I

Maestro I Softlab in Munich was a platform for computer-aided software development and the first Integrated Development Environment for software. It was originally sold under the name PET/X1150. This name is composed from the use of program development - terminal system and the underlying Philips X1150 data collection system. The Maestro I system was installed around the world 22,000 times, of which ( to 1989) 6,000 times in the Federal Republic of Germany. Maestro I was in the 1970s and 1980s, leaders in the field. The largest buyer in the United States was the Bank of America. An obtained Maestro - I system is exhibited in the Museum of Information Technology in Arlington, Texas.

Historical role

Maestro I or PET/X1150 is part of the art history and was an essential factor for the development of

  • Software Engineering
  • Development environments
  • Human- computer interaction, ergonomics
  • Methods and process models for software development

Prehistory

The working day for a programmer saw before 1975 often from so that he typed in a program at a teletype or card punch and so went to the computer. There he read his paper tape or punched cards, and after the start of the program and the data on those disks.

The distribution of the IBM 3270 display terminals, along with IBM ISPF ( Interactive System Productivity Facility ) was a major relief compared. Development after about 1972 until the early 1980s, was very slow and cost reasons.

The built- in ISPF text editor allows you to create source texts for programs in timesharing mode. This editor is operated by control commands, line commands and function keys. Disadvantage: the programmer gets the reactions to his entries delayed, after completing one side, so the application appears to the user as a whole sluggish and unintuitive.

Rezenzeffekt in programming

Is delayed the response in dialog mode, inevitably, breaks in the work. It is important that short-term memory ( cf. Atkinson and Shiffrin Literature, 1968, the "discoverer" of the short-term memory ). When Rezenzeffekt (English recency effect) is a psychological phenomenon. He says that later in-depth information a greater impact on the memory capacity of a person exercises as previously detailed information. Strictly speaking the Rezenzeffekt is a phenomenon which affects short-term memory. Generally, it occurs when recently perceived information is given more weight due to the better ability to remember as the former information. Conclusion: In case of delays, the programmer loses the thread.

Maestro I was a real innovation in this period. According to the economist Joseph Schumpeter, innovation is the implementation of a technical or organizational innovation, not just inventing it. The "invention" of short-term memory has been made ​​technically available. With Maestro I each keystroke was passed directly to the central unit and the reactions to the input was immediately without delay. This was accomplished due to the very specific hardware characteristics of the basic machine.

A comparison with other innovations such as Ajax is entitled here. In 2005, the term Ajax was increasingly present in the media. Google used the asynchronous communication paradigm in interactive applications such as Google Maps. Traditionally, Web applications provide forms that were previously filled by the user. IBM 3270 display terminals work with filling out forms, with delays, disruptive breaks in the work. Maestro I have these delays overcome by technological innovation, similar to later Ajax also formerly annoying breaks in the work.

Milestones

Harald Wieler, co-partner of Softlab, has a first prototype of the PET based on the Philips X 1150 data collection system (original a Four Phase system) developed since 1974. Wieler was previously architect of the operating system for mainframe development of Radio Corporation of America and Siemens. The development of Maestro I was with BMFT funds promoted with the aim of an interactive programming station for monthly 1000 D - Mark. The first presentation of the system took place in October 1975 at Systems in Munich.

Beginning of 1977 have been released by Softlab remote data transmission procedures by which the PET-based computer Philips X could be 1150 to IBM systems of the type S/360/370 or Siemens shipped 4004/7000 program data and compiled on these mainframes in batch mode. Characterized the connection of the interactive program and the processing power of systems was possible, which have been used by the time-sharing method.

The non-European sales of the system, mainly in the USA, found by the Itel Corp.. under the name Maestro instead. About this travel 1200 programming workstation installations were marketed until 1978.

After Boeing conducted an investigation in 1979 by comparing its self-developed, similar system with the PET/X1150 and self-development for the benefit of PET gave up, ordered the American aircraft manufacturer with seven additional systems Softlab. This major contract managed sustainably to break into the U.S. market. The largest buyer in the United States was the Bank of America. For its computing center in San Francisco, the Bank managed 24 PET computer screen with 576 stations. After Softlab due to this success, established a branch in San Francisco, a total of 100 systems with 2,000 connected monitor workplaces in America could be sold through this alone.

As of the 1980 multi-day courses for the operation of the Maestro system by Softlab were offered.

The dial-up capability of the PET/X1150 in 1982 expanded so that the Maestro IBM 3270 emulation could be shifted from efficiency reasons, to dedicated processors.

"The system now offers support for advanced interactive design, documentation and testing as well as for project implementation and management. The DFU capabilities built up his. In addition to the 3270 BSC dialog now is the dialogue among SDLC / SNA available. Parallel connections with TSO, IMS, CICS are possible. "

Technology

The base engine was a key- to-disk data collection system. Historical predecessors Key -to- tape systems in the early 1970s, such as Olympic multiplex 80

Possible configuration:

  • System with 96 KB of memory,
  • Six screens,
  • A 68 -MB disk space,
  • A 200 -line printer, and
  • Dial-up Connection
Arlington (Texas) Human factors and ergonomics RCA IBM System/360
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