March 1975 Newsletter

This newsletter (Number 12) from March 1975 covers various updates, requests for user input, and new software releases/projects for DEC's PDP-8 and PDP-12 systems.

Key points include:

• User Input for New OS: DEC is soliciting user feedback for a potential new operating system for the PDP-8/12, focusing on features, performance trade-offs, and compatibility with the existing OS/8.
• Software Corrections: The newsletter corrects previous announcements regarding OS/8 FORTRAN IV double precision support and the availability of the RTS-8 second release (with task swapping).
• DECUS Spring Symposium: Details are provided for the upcoming Spring DECUS Symposium, including the OS/8 SIG's program and planned activities.
• Newsletter Improvements: Calls for user contributions to make the newsletter more frequent and proposes sharing Software Problem Reports (SPRs) among SIG members for faster problem/solution dissemination.

• Project Updates: Updates on several software projects:

  • MACREL: The macro-relocatable assembler is delayed but still anticipated.
  • RTS-8 FORTRAN: This project is on indefinite hold, with discussion around the difficulty of re-entrant run-time support on the PDP-8.
  • OS/8 Version 4: A minor update is expected, potentially including the SET command, floppy disk support, and command language compatibility enhancements across DEC systems.

• OS/8 SIG Activities: Discussions on improving the quality of the DECUS library by flagging or featuring tested programs, and a call for suggestions on review standards.

• Community Initiatives: Mentions a user-driven initiative for an OS/8 pocket reference card and the growing trend of local user groups (e.g., a new Swedish OS/8 group).
• Technical Discussions/Solutions: A memo addresses "Potential Problems for OS/8 Cusps with Multiple Output Files" and provides a solution for managing output handlers to prevent crashes. Another section details "Dynamic Modifications to KL8E Handler" for patching out features like echoing, paging, tabs, and case conversion.
• New Software/Utilities: Introduces various new programs and utilities available or coming soon to the DECUS library, including a Computer Catalog System, Varian STATOS 21 Line Printer handler, MEMO IV (text formatter), Virtual File UDEF for OS/8 BASIC, Micro-Processor Language Assembler for OS/8, DSP8 Diagnostic Support Package, and OS/8 Software for a TC58 MAGtape Control.
• Hardware Enhancements: Discusses the increasing trend of OS/8 users upgrading to 32K core memory, particularly for PDP-12 LINCtape systems, and details how new device handlers leverage this expanded memory to speed up system operations and reduce tape shuffling, as documented by James E. Randall.
• Miscellaneous: Updates on LPTSPL program, West Virginia University's utility and file maintenance packages, TECO with VC8e display overlay, IBM 2741 terminal support, FORTRAN IV 12-bit word access routines (WGET/WPUT), and FORTRAN IV plotting routines (IFORM/FFORM).