Summary
Programming Manual for the Automatic Electronic Computer, CSIRAC, August 1959.
The manual was produced to guide expert users of CSIRAC in programming the machine.
The manual was produced by the staff of the Computation Laboratory of the University of Melbourne and based on material by Trevor Pearcey and Maston Beard.
The manual provides a detailed description of how to program CSIRAC. The Introduction includes some explanation of what is meant by programming:
"To 'programme the calculation' means to draw up a list of commands, each of which calls on an operation that the machine can perform, and which together will do what is required. For this purpose, the programmer will need to know which commands the machine can perform and how to organize these operations into a complete programme. It is sometimes helpful, but not necessary, to understand the physical details of machine organization...
In many programmes, most of the commands are copied from previously tested programmes, which have been organized into a 'library' of routines."
Physical Description
Yellow booklet with 36 pages and stapled spine.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Frank Hirst - University of Melbourne (The), Mar 1965
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Maker
Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Aug 1959
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Author
Dr Trevor Pearcey, 1959
Trevor Pearcey was involved with Maston Beard in the design, construction and operation of the CSIR Mk1 computer (later renamed CSIRAC) at the CSIR Division of Radiophysics, Sydney, up until 1955, when the computer was moved to Melbourne. -
Author
Dr Geoff W. Hill - The University of Melbourne Computation Laboratory, 1959
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User
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Inscriptions
Front cover: "UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE / COMPUTATION LABORATORY / PROGRAMMING MANUAL / for the Automatic Electronic Computer / CSIRAC / This production by the staff of the Computation Laboratory is based / upon papers by T. Pearcey and G.W. Hill / August, 1959.
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Exhibition Collection Management
3 mm (Length), 202 mm (Width), 326 mm (Height)
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Keywords
Computers, Computing, CSIRAC (Computer), Making History - CSIRAC
