PS/8 AND OS/8 NEWSLETTER - April 1972

The April 1972 PS/8 AID OS/8 Newsletter provides updates on system developments and community activities. It announces the DECUS Spring Symposium '72, highlighting PS/8-OS/8 meetings and new product announcements, while noting scheduling conflicts.

A major focus is the new OS/8 release (formerly FS/3), which includes bug fixes, 2-page device handler capabilities, an interactive system configuration program called BUILD, a /Y option in PIP for system area copies, and garbage collection in EDIT. The new system costs $300, with a credit for existing PS/8 owners, and DEC intends to continue supporting PS/8.

The newsletter also discusses upcoming additions like SRCCOM (source file comparison), PDP-10 compatible TECO, and PIP-10 for file interchange. A significant challenge identified is the conversion of programs between different media (DECtape, LINCtape, paper tape), with Kurt Metzgar offering assistance and a growing need due to PDP-12 users adopting PS/8. OMSI offers PS/8 FOCAL, TECO, and a modified EDUsystem-30 BASIC. Interest in running PS/8 on LINC-8 systems is noted, along with the introduction of various new device handlers and FORTRAN subroutines.

New programs added to the DECUS library include PS8IN/PS8OUT for character-oriented I/O, EXIT PS/8, and MONITOR COMMAND EXTENSIONS for user-expandable monitor commands. Work in progress includes a FORTRAN callable graphics package, a batch capability for PS/8, and an interrupt package for SABR-FORTRAN. Other new features ('goodies') include FPLO for PFOCAL (plotter package), FADC for PDP-12 A/D, an expanded PS/8 LISP, and PIP patches for LINCtape space. Finally, corrected and shorter DECtape bootstrap routines are provided.