A Slice of History

I was up in the loft again today and I happened across something of great historical interest. I found a Computer Science Departmental Prospectus from 1978, the year that I graduated. I’d kept it because, ahem, I’m in it.

This is the cover. Any idea which language this is?

..and this is the money shot. I think I’ve probably still got those shoes somewhere. And that hairstyle….

The computer in the corner (yes, that is a computer) was a Prime machine and myself and the other chap (another prize for naming him) were allowed special access to it for our Final Year Projects. We then went onto create an unbeatable version of the “Fox and Hounds” board game that was so good that nobody wanted to play it.

Good times.

Comments

[Andy]

I've never seen a language with keywords in quotes.

Clearly some Pascal derivative/precursor due to the := and ; separators.

PL0? Algol?

[Andy]

Ah - you learn something every day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stropping_(programming)

So Algol it is then...

[Andy]

and while I'm learning (and monopolizing your blog)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigil_(computer_programming)

These are the symbols like $ that are added to variables to denote type or other information.

[Svetoslav]

It look like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simula but there aren't quotes.

[Steve]

At least you had a terminal with a CRT. We had to use a stupid teletype.

[Rob]

Hmm. We didn't get to use teletypes until our third year. First two years was punched cards........

[Pete Clare]

Although others have already answered, nobody has precisely pinned it down.

The answer is:

ALGOL 60 (specifically, the ICL 1900 variant since a) writetext was not part of the core language and b) that is the mainframe that the University had at the time).

BTW, if you asked specially then you could get an online account in your first year and get to use the teletypes. I got an account in my first term of my first year even though, as you say, policy was only to give students online access in their final year. You just had to ask (and know that you could ask).