PDP-8/OS-8 NEWSLETTER - April 1976

The April 1976 PDP-8/OS-8 Newsletter announces DEC's renewed focus on the PDP-8 family, marked by the formation of a new PDP-8 Marketing Group and increased software development funding, following extensive user feedback. Survey results from 102 users indicated strong interest in operating system and language development, particularly for multi-tasking OS/8.

The document details numerous user contributions and technical discussions, including:

• System Enhancements & Patches: Modifications for OS/8 (e.g., DSK: default device, alphabetized DIRECT listings, BLOAD bug fixes, BATCH log for LA-36, OS/8 bootstrap explanations) and RTS-8 (LINC mode interrupts).
• Language & Software Development: Updates on Lars Palmer's STAT package, FORMS, and Scientific Subroutine Package (SSP), discussions on FLAP/RALF and FPP Support Package, user-developed BASIC functions for random access files and margin control, and a proposed SNOBOL semicompiler.
• Advanced Systems & Hardware Support: A detailed review of EDUCOMP's ETOS, a timeshared OS/8 system providing virtual 32K memory, multi-user access, and file security. Other topics include multi-user OS/8 implementations by Bill Haygood, microprocessor cross-assemblers (X8 series), OS/8 modifications for KV8 displays, and proposals for standardized IOT-codes.
• Future Planning & Community: Calls for input on PDP-8 software planning (e.g., a relocatable-macro assembler and improved high-level languages like Pascal or ALGOL 68), and updates from the European OS/8 SIG, emphasizing community involvement in further development and support for the 12-bit family.