PDP-8

The PDP -8 was the first commercially successful minicomputer in the history of the computer. The computer was brought in 1965 by Digital Equipment Corporation ( DEC) on the market. The computing machine for the price of $ 18,000 enabled not only large companies use a computer. The production number was 50,000 units. Edson de Castro was the head of development. The PDP series was started with the PDP-1. PDP Programmed Data Processor means.

Technically, it was a 12 -bit machine. Main memory comprised 4,096 12-bit words in the form of a core stack made ​​of individual miniature ring magnet ( core memory ) for each information bit. The Swiss project manager of the development of the PDP -8 / E has published a review, which is, inter alia, that memory described and illustrated. One word could store two 6-bit ASCII characters. A sign was at the time of 6 bits and not as usual today from 8 bits. The architecture was simple and easy to implement with TTL logic. The original PDP-8 in 1965 still used DTL logic. In the beginning, there was no operating system, and it was used a front panel with switches for operation. Later, as the operating system was used on paper tape. The operating system OS / 8 was used mainly. It was programmed in Assembler, Basic, Fortran, Focal and Dibol.

The computer was produced from 1965 to 1979. The first PDP-8 -compatible microprocessor -based model DECmate was discontinued in 1990. Initially counted the computer to the mini computers and in the 1980s to personal computers. The PDP -8 was used for business applications, for control and regulation in the industry and in scientific experiments. The Digital Equipment Corporation from 1970 offered the PDP - 11th

The PDP -8 was rebuilt at the beginning of the 1970s in the GDR at Robotron as KSR4100. The computers were used for example as a control computer for processing machines and automation solutions.