Recent posts

#1

General Anime and Manga / Re: What Manga are you reading...

Last post by Bella - Yesterday at 11:16:59 PM

Learned that I somehow missed that a series I liked ended in 2019.  Have to track it down, even if it's never been officially translated.

Which one's that?

#2

OS-tan Talk / Re: More IBM-tans III: The One...

Last post by Bella - Yesterday at 11:15:54 PM

Did we talk about her before, or was it before my time and I just forgot the discussion?  It seems like that there's a lot more on her since the BBN history book was put online in 2012/2013?

Looked around and couldn't actually find anything written here ... so it may not have gotten out of the "thinking about it" stage. Or maybe I was thinking of the BBN Lisp machine, which I proposed but never actually worked on.

After SAGE, DTSS was one of the first OS-tans here that grabbed my attention!  At the time I didn't feel confident to tackle changing other people's work, but at this point, I don't know how much anyone cares so why not expand on her a bit?

The irresistible pull of New Hampshirites, huh? :3

I CARE!!! About her being fixed up and the best she can be. Seriously, after 15+ years and discovering a ton more context for a lot of early OSes it's only natural to revise their -tans. For my part, I think largely ignoring the role of early computer hardware fundamentally screwed up my perception of a lot of the earliest -tans that I made.

Did I just imagine that she and CTSS were family before!?  Or think it into existence?  LGP-30 is everywhere, man, you can't escape her.  Glad I made her a threatening, but I kind of want to revise her a bit more after learning more about her big role developing time-sharing OSes and other early computer science events like one of the first CS degree programs.

CTSS-tan and DTSS-tan were nebulously regarded as "cousins" because of their status as early timesharing systems from geographically proximate institutions. LGP-30-tan deserves all the attention she can get, I'd be thrilled to see what revisions you make!

I think her and IAS get along, kind of a passing of the torch in bringing computers to more people.

Aw, that is a good way to look at it!

She is kind of the perfect synthesis of the weird mixing pot of development swirling around Boston in the early 60s.  Everyone was going a thousand directions trying to get their concept actually built

Ironic that she out-DEC'd the early DECs (and earlier DEC-influencing computers, Whirlwind, LINC, TX-0, etc.) in that regard.

Wait a minute if Whirlwind-tan is a reverential figure to the DECs does that make BBNTSS-tan some sort of DEC demiurge? Or would be if anyone paid attention to her.

Unlike CTSS, she just doesn't feel any kinship with them.  She's kind of shut-in across town (voluntarily) and it doesn't help that it seems DEC keeps stealing her humans away.  DTSS/CTSS are 100% all the family she feels like she needs.  SAGE and Whirlwind/TX-0 are intimidating to her, even if she has TX-2 DNA in her too...

Funny to think that anyone could find Whirlwind-tan intimidating! I guess they are in opposite corners in terms of personality and outlook, even if they are well matched in curiosity and tinkering.

She has no reason to go to DC, so it's just kinda funny.

Cherry blossoms, and receiving a WIMMEX-tan jumpscare.

There is nothing about that, don't will that into existence!  TENEX is her apprentice/daughter that will eventually tragically kill her/end her suffering, but FASTRAND didn't really contribute strictly speaking...

TOO LATE, I'M MANIFESTING IT by way of considering giving TENEX-tan shared traits from both. (Mostly I think light blonde/black split hair would be fun and make her even more visually striking and unusual among the DEC clan. Though with all the new BBN & BBN Timesharing System facts I've learned I'm convinced TENEX-tan needs an overhaul in general.)

He contributed something! He was there! Which makes him more of a father than the average OS-tan has.

He's the anti-Laughing Salesman, trying to bring fun and improvement no-strings-attached to various mentally unstable computers.  I guess it's the tragedy of being a pretty timeless device when time is moving way to fast for a lot of the OSes he meets.

He definitely gave her some styling tips to look good with what she can get her hands on!

Selectric-kun is the anti-FASTRAND, befriending all the mentally unstable OS-tans while FASTRAND is- [obliterated by a small nuke]

Good point on his timelessness, he really was around for all of it wasn't he? At least he & BBNTSS-tan had a makeover montage...

[BBN TIMESHARING SYSTEM-TAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

#3

OS-tan Talk / Re: More IBM-tans III: The One...

Last post by stewartsage - Yesterday at 09:01:37 PM

HELL YEA DTSS-TAN REWORK!!!! BBN TIMESHARING SYSTEM-TAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did we talk about her before, or was it before my time and I just forgot the discussion?  It seems like that there's a lot more on her since the BBN history book was put online in 2012/2013?

I'm so, so glad you decided to breathe new life into the design for DTSS-tan, since she's the personification of one of the most impactful OSes of all time and a matter of regional pride. I like that you've syncretized aspects of her old personifcation (being mute, being outdoorsy) with new ones (a silly side and past as an aimless college kid herself). Along with CTSS-tan she seems very much an OS-tan for the people, moreso given the sheer reach that she had across colleges, high schools and even some other institutions. I think we once talked about DTSS-tan being a bit of a reverential figure to the BASIC-using microcomputer-tans, and I'm glad that's finally filtered into her official personification. ^___^

After SAGE, DTSS was one of the first OS-tans here that grabbed my attention!  At the time I didn't feel confident to tackle changing other people's work, but at this point, I don't know how much anyone cares so why not expand on her a bit?

I'm also glad she's become a part of CTSS-tan's family, and the LGP-30-tan Conspiracy.

Did I just imagine that she and CTSS were family before!?  Or think it into existence?  LGP-30 is everywhere, man, you can't escape her.  Glad I made her a threatening, but I kind of want to revise her a bit more after learning more about her big role developing time-sharing OSes and other early computer science events like one of the first CS degree programs.

It is tenuous, but given John Kemeny's nationality and past work with John von Neumann I would like to think DTSS-tan writes to IAS-sama (in Hungarian) sometimes.

I think her and IAS get along, kind of a passing of the torch in bringing computers to more people.

BBN TIME SHARING SYSTEM!!! GIVE IT UP FOR BBN TIMESHARING SYSTEM!!! I wrung my brain to work on this one waaaaaaaaaay back (like, pre PDP-1-tan development) so I'm thrilled to see her picked up by the maestro of obscure OSes.

Somehow I think she might be the strongest contender for weirdest DEC/MIT OS-tan, which is really saying a lot! It's incredible to think that, despite her accomplishments, she died so young and is largely forgotten...

Because she was an OS rather than PDP-1 being technically hardware?

She is kind of the perfect synthesis of the weird mixing pot of development swirling around Boston in the early 60s.  Everyone was going a thousand directions trying to get their concept actually built

It's also interesting that she's as asocial toward her fellow (non-PDP-1) DECs as she is. She's almost like the inverse CTSS-tan in this sense. On that note, I love that she's friends with CTSS-tan and the big sis to DTSS-tan, they deserve all the friends. ^__^

Model railroad weirdo, huh? [Lemon Demon My Trains intensifies]

Her light powers are really cool. I wonder what Whirlwind-hime has to say about it! Her Boston-DC teleportation abilities make me deeply envious...

Unlike CTSS, she just doesn't feel any kinship with them.  She's kind of shut-in across town (voluntarily) and it doesn't help that it seems DEC keeps stealing her humans away.  DTSS/CTSS are 100% all the family she feels like she needs.  SAGE and Whirlwind/TX-0 are intimidating to her, even if she has TX-2 DNA in her too...

Exactly.

Surprised that was the idea lifted from Lincoln Labs to try on her.  She has no reason to go to DC, so it's just kinda funny.

WHAT IS UP WITH FASTRAND-KUN AND DATING MENTALLY UNWELL KNIFE WIELDING WOMEN WHO LIVE IN BASEMENTS BEFORE AMICABLY SEPARATING INTO FRIENDS! WHO'S NEXT, WWMCCS-TAN?!?!?!

I like the contrast between their personalities and volume levels and - WAIT WHAT IS THAT ABOUT TENEX BEING THE PRODUCT OF THE BBNTSS-FASTRAND PAIRING? ARE YOU SAYING -

Waitwaitwait did Tenex-tan kill BBNTSS-tan or am I misunderstanding something? Anyway all of this makes me want a soap opera based on her life story.

WWMCCS has eyes for one person only, FASTRAND is too smart to intrude on that.

There is nothing about that, don't will that into existence!  TENEX is her apprentice/daughter that will eventually tragically kill her/end her suffering, but FASTRAND didn't really contribute strictly speaking...

I like that she's a part of the Selectric-kun Cinematic Universe but can his timesharing OS-tan friends stop dying?  ;0;

I hope he was at least able to take her suit shopping at some point, even if second-hand...

He's the anti-Laughing Salesman, trying to bring fun and improvement no-strings-attached to various mentally unstable computers.  I guess it's the tragedy of being a pretty timeless device when time is moving way to fast for a lot of the OSes he meets.

He definitely gave her some styling tips to look good with what she can get her hands on!

#4

OS-tan Fan-Fics, Comics and Fan-Stuff / Re: Bella's OS-tan Artwork Thr...

Last post by stewartsage - Yesterday at 08:33:20 PM

PDP-1 is really just an endearing 60's cartoon character.  Which is designed to piss SAGE off as much as possible.  Glad she's hanging out with the family~

#5

General Chat / Re: Topicless thread

Last post by stewartsage - Yesterday at 08:31:55 PM

Seafront Connecticut, the most expensive possible part of an expensive state.

#6

General Anime and Manga / Re: What Manga are you reading...

Last post by stewartsage - Yesterday at 08:29:46 PM

Learned that I somehow missed that a series I liked ended in 2019.  Have to track it down, even if it's never been officially translated.

[BBN TIMESHARING SYSTEM-TAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

#7

OS-tan Talk / Re: More IBM-tans III: The One...

Last post by Bella - July 01, 2025, 11:47:35 PM

HELL YEA DTSS-TAN REWORK!!!! BBN TIMESHARING SYSTEM-TAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I'm so, so glad you decided to breathe new life into the design for DTSS-tan, since she's the personification of one of the most impactful OSes of all time and a matter of regional pride. I like that you've syncretized aspects of her old personifcation (being mute, being outdoorsy) with new ones (a silly side and past as an aimless college kid herself). Along with CTSS-tan she seems very much an OS-tan for the people, moreso given the sheer reach that she had across colleges, high schools and even some other institutions. I think we once talked about DTSS-tan being a bit of a reverential figure to the BASIC-using microcomputer-tans, and I'm glad that's finally filtered into her official personification. ^___^

I'm also glad she's become a part of CTSS-tan's family, and the LGP-30-tan Conspiracy.

It is tenuous, but given John Kemeny's nationality and past work with John von Neumann I would like to think DTSS-tan writes to IAS-sama (in Hungarian) sometimes.

BBN TIME SHARING SYSTEM!!! GIVE IT UP FOR BBN TIMESHARING SYSTEM!!! I wrung my brain to work on this one waaaaaaaaaay back (like, pre PDP-1-tan development) so I'm thrilled to see her picked up by the maestro of obscure OSes.

Somehow I think she might be the strongest contender for weirdest DEC/MIT OS-tan, which is really saying a lot! It's incredible to think that, despite her accomplishments, she died so young and is largely forgotten...

It's also interesting that she's as asocial toward her fellow (non-PDP-1) DECs as she is. She's almost like the inverse CTSS-tan in this sense. On that note, I love that she's friends with CTSS-tan and the big sis to DTSS-tan, they deserve all the friends. ^__^

Model railroad weirdo, huh? [Lemon Demon My Trains intensifies]

Her light powers are really cool. I wonder what Whirlwind-hime has to say about it! Her Boston-DC teleportation abilities make me deeply envious...

Like everyone else on earth dated FASTRAND-kun,

decided they were better as friends

WHAT IS UP WITH FASTRAND-KUN AND DATING MENTALLY UNWELL KNIFE WIELDING WOMEN WHO LIVE IN BASEMENTS BEFORE AMICABLY SEPARATING INTO FRIENDS! WHO'S NEXT, WWMCCS-TAN?!?!?!

I like the contrast between their personalities and volume levels and - WAIT WHAT IS THAT ABOUT TENEX BEING THE PRODUCT OF THE BBNTSS-FASTRAND PAIRING? ARE YOU SAYING -

Waitwaitwait did Tenex-tan kill BBNTSS-tan or am I misunderstanding something? Anyway all of this makes me want a soap opera based on her life story.

I like that she's a part of the Selectric-kun Cinematic Universe but can his timesharing OS-tan friends stop dying?  ;0;

I hope he was at least able to take her suit shopping at some point, even if second-hand...

#8

OS-tan Fan-Fics, Comics and Fan-Stuff / Re: Bella's OS-tan Artwork Thr...

Last post by Bella - July 01, 2025, 10:55:06 PM

Fullview
A page of SAGE and PDP-1 and FASTRAND and IBM 728 (and Whirlwind voice cameo) because I found out the BBN PDP-1 had a FASTRAND drum drive, and crave SAGE-tan being tormented by her little sister, not boyfriend, mom, etc.

[Dartmouth Time-Sharing System (DTSS)-tan:]

#9

OS-tan Talk / Re: More IBM-tans III: The One...

Last post by stewartsage - July 01, 2025, 09:25:55 PM

TBH, the idea (re)occurred to me while reexamining some of Multics-tan's powers and realizing none of them included multi-presence (which I'm officially proposing now). Of course, she'd be extravagant with it, CTSS-tan would just have everyone convinced she's eerily good at catching the T.

The other thing I realized is that I envision CTSS-tan much as an older (fashioned, and physically) Unix-tan: social, bookish, good at getting ideas out into the world. Might even match each other in temper if you want to make MAD into a character trait. ^_^;

The two would jibe fabulously if they met, I think. ^_^

Not sold on it unless it ties more into how she operated, but maybe it could be some sort of berserker power-up?

Errata: I think CTSS-tan should have one red eye and one blue eye, after the Red & Blue Machines that ran the OS. (Also, I think it would be fun if funky eyes were a recurring trait in Whirlwind-tan's family and the CTSS-Multics-Unix line.)

To that end I think Multics-tan should get her alternate color scheme golden eyes as a power activation treat. :3

I like it! 

Working on CTSS-tan's wiki article now and realizing that CP/CMS-tan should probably get a rework too. More IBM-tans for the IBM-tan thread?

Finally!

To the same end, I've been working on something of an overhaul to DTSS-tan which has lead me into a dark locked room with her forgotten older sister (not CTSS), BBNTSS.  Accordingly I'd like to propose the following updated outline for DTSS-tan.

Dartmouth Time-Sharing System (DTSS)-tan: AKA Dartmouth College Time Sharing-tan
-Born and from New Hampshire.
-Spent some time as an aimless college kid herself. Part of why she's so easy to get along with is she might understand humans better than her contemporaries. (Originated in a proposal by a student in 1962 named Master Executive Supervisory System)
-Mute.  Most of her power is focused on other things, and draws on translator program and hardware -tans to do that.  Or ASL. (DTSS was designed to ensure the maximum availability of computer time.  No time to talk.)
-Unpretentious.  Not afraid to get messy.  There's no such thing as hands-off for DTSS-tan, in a fight or a project she works right alongside humans and hardware-tans. (Designed from the start for ease of access and teaching.)
-Likes to spend her free time in the woods walking or writing to friends. (She's from NH, self-sufficient for her time and an early networked system)
-A natural gift for communication and teaching despite not being able to speak.  She may be able to project her thoughts straight to others. (Used to design BASIC and other teaching systems)
-Very jokey, likes puns and humorous acronyms. (A legacy of being designed by students.  Her predecessor accessibility projects included SCALP, DOPE, and her original name was MESS)
-Likes to party, but keeps it away from her students.
-Reborn in 1969.  Got a bit taller and sturdier.  Sometimes mistaken for Multics at a distance. (Revised and updated that year, little external difference to make a smooth transition for users.  Partly inspired by Multics file system)
-Views Fernando Corbató and John McCarthy as her uncles, CTSS-tan as a cousin and BBNTSS-tan as a sister.  (Corbato and McCarthy's work inspired both iterations of DTSS)
-Fell further and further behind the power curve, but never faded away. (Last major updates came in the 1980s but kept on trucking)
-Everytime someone takes her for old-fashioned, reminds them she studied under LGP-30-tan. (Predecessor to her at Dartmouth) alongside BBNTSS.
-Never died, just spent a few years asleep.  (DCTS was turned off 12/31/99 and work on her emulator began 12/1/00, completed in 2004)
-Has the best relationship with personal computers of all sorts in the mainframe generation.  Sees them as the children she never had.
Status: Alive, prefers hanging out with the Binteeji Renmei where she can still teach, now about history.

Physical: Unchanged.

Sources: Man and Mainframe at Dartmouth, A History of Personal Computing, Design Considerations for an Educational Time-Sharing System, Dartmouth Time-Sharing: Development of the system by a team of faculty and undergraduates is described

BBN (Bolt, Beranek and Newman) Time-Sharing System-tan: AKA TELCOMP-tan and TELCOMP II-tan
-Yet another Mass-tan.  Part DEC, part MIT.  Born in 1962.
-Small, fast, dangerous. (Designed to prove small computer time-sharing could work)
-Hates being left alone. (underused by BBN, the company that built her and ultimately abandoned)
-Loves hanging out with CTSS-tan across town. (Basically a simultaneous program, but less used and more basic)
-Sees DTSS-tan as her younger sister. (DTSS designed for the same reason at roughly the same time with the same general influence.)
-Does not get along with her DEC brethren other than PDP-1.  Very jealous of the attention and love they get from their company. (Personnel came and went between MIT/BBN/DEC, most of whom resented BBN and spent little time with BBNTSS)
-Just a little weirdo that likes model trains (Mostly programmed by undegrad MIT students who hung out at the Tech Model Railroad Club).
-Has a knife. (cut her own ribbon at the dedication)
-Wields very basic light-drawn magic. (Also tested light pen programs for commercial purposes)
-Never developed strong space/time travel powers like her sisters.  Could basically just go across town or to DC. (As as essentially a demo, was only used between buildings in the company and to a test terminal in Washington, DC)
-Like everyone else on earth dated FASTRAND-kun, decided they were better as friends.  (BBN bought the first FASTRAND unit to give their PDP-1 enough memory to run BBNTSS)
-Also as quiet as he is loud. (BBN did a lot of acoustics dampening work, and so did BBNTSS)
-Comes off as gloomy but is very curious. (lived in a basement and used extensively for research, to the point her commercial service failed)
-Spiritually at least the mother to TENEX/TOPS-20. (The same PDP-1/FASTRAND system evolved to support the TELCOMP project, which in turn spawned TENEX in-house and became TOPS-20 under DEC).
-Killed by her apprentice under mysterious circumstances. (BBN was a managerial mess, TELCOMP was a failure, and TENEX went on to success with DEC)
-Selectric-kun keeps a photo of her as a reminder. (Selectrics were used as the interface
Status: Dead circa 1970

Physical: Blonde, like her closest part-siblings siblings (PDP-1, CTSS, DTSS) but taller than PDP-1.  Actually does not need glasses, or probably just never got taken to an eye doctor.  Taller than PDP-1 but not mainframe height (memory unit gives her strength and height boost).  Dresses kinda shabby.  Older, secondhand women's suits.  Aspires to Selectric-kun's sense of fashion and salesmanship.

Sources: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1461551.1461559, A Culture of Innovation: Insider Accounts of Computing and Life at BBN

#10

OS-tan Talk / Re: More IBM-tans III: The One...

Last post by Bella - June 30, 2025, 08:30:29 PM

Errata: I think CTSS-tan should have one red eye and one blue eye, after the Red & Blue Machines that ran the OS. (Also, I think it would be fun if funky eyes were a recurring trait in Whirlwind-tan's family and the CTSS-Multics-Unix line.)

To that end I think Multics-tan should get her alternate color scheme golden eyes as a power activation treat. :3

Working on CTSS-tan's wiki article now and realizing that CP/CMS-tan should probably get a rework too. More IBM-tans for the IBM-tan thread?