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We're approaching the ten year anniversary of my starting work on the IBM S/360-tans (https://www.ostan-collections.net/forum/index.php?msg=76181) in another like nine months (https://www.ostan-collections.net/forum/index.php?msg=75198). In honor of that momentous occasion, where my future waifu would say,
Quote from: Bella on January 16, 2010, 03:46:24 PMOMG, Stewartsage-- you ARE the hardest working man in OS-tan business. O.O
I bring you... A S/360-tan I didn't even learn about until last year!
Also some other stuff. From PDP-8's herd of lil' OSes.
COS/360: AKA COS/50
-Possibly a shapeshifter of some sort (Today she'd be an emulator, that didn't really exist in 1966 so it was apparently an OS running under an OS to pretend and be older hardware)
-Pretends to be a twin to DOS, to the point of mimicking her movements when together if it'll creep others out.
-Actually shorter than her sister.
-Feared by the older IBM hardware-tans, whom she can exert control over through touch (Designed to emulate IBM 1410/1440/1010/etcs to run their programs under DOS/360)
--Usually fights with a legion of 'zombie' obsolete hardware-tans
-Deeply comfortable with being DOS' pet assassin/psycho.
-Status:
Feared Dead You don't know that~ Dead
Physical: Shorter than a mainframe by a lot, tends to dress soberly, lithe, not just thin, short hair, likes wigs
Sources: Catalog of Programs for IBM 1240-1401 1420-1440 and 1460 Data Processing Systems (http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/ibm/1401/C20-1601-5_1401_pgmCatalog.pdf), Catalog of Programs for IBM System/360 Models 25 and above (January 1971) (https://doc.lagout.org/science/0_Computer%20Science/0_Computer%20History/old-hardware/ibm/360/programCatalog/GC20-1619-8_Catalog_of_pgms.pdf), IBM System/360 and System/370 Bibliography (July 1973) (http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/ibm/360/bibliography/GA22-6822-20_System_360_and_System_370_Bibliography_Jul73.pdf), IBM System/360 and System/370 Bibliography (September 1974) (http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/ibm/360/bibliography/GA22-6822-21_System_360_and_System_370_Bibliography_Sep74.pdf), Seymour Metz, Mainframe Operating Systems, bit.listserv.ibm-main, (February 2000) (https://groups.google.com/d/msg/bit.listserv.ibm-main/B40ZOnPyQX0/vORYde0YPhUJ)
Card/Paper Tape Programming System-tan:
-Lowest of the low at IBM; the budget programming system for the budget hardware line. She's not real self-confident
-Often a pawn for COS/360 even if COS can't actually mind control her
-Not a "real" OS
-A great math teacher, still very poor (Used for the well-supported educational IBM 1500 that then failed because of institutional funding issues)
-Got drafted to fill the IBM-tan quota (Used by the Signal Corps to teach electronics instructional programs)
-Excellent language skills, top translator despite being held in little regard (Card
and paper tape! Wow!)
-Got left in a ditch in New Jersey somewhere
-Status: Super dead
P?S/8-tan: AKA Poly Question Society Monitor System AKA MS/8-tan AKA R-L Monitor System-tan
-OS/8's aspirational big sis!
-Not actually any bigger
-More thoughtful than her sister, constantly tinkering, trying to improve herself (PS/8 was still being developed in 1993)
-DECArmy engineer
-Worries OS/8-tan and her are clones
(they might be)(developed from MS/8 with PS/8 keeping more of those small-system traits)
-Works well with her PDP-8 mom despite a determination to keep things austere and on mission. LINC is super proud of her.
-Status: Defiantly alive
Physical: A near copy of OS/8 except for her almost totemic single DECtape necklace, likes ribbons and other small things to stand out.
Sources: Three somewhat (http://www.blinkenlights.com/classiccmp/pdp8faq.txt) different personal recollections (https://web.archive.org/web/20040825183612/http://sunsite.tus.ac.jp/pub/academic/computer-science/history/pdp-8/docs/WHAT-IS-A-PDP8) from the early 1990s. (http://www.columbia.edu/kermit/ftp/extra/k278.bwr)
MENU-8-tan:
-Annoying friend to PS/8 and OS/8
-Tries to "manage" their lives despite not being a DEC-tan (Proprietary system of Charles Lasner Associates)
-Quite good at it actually, but weak to being mocked for not doing anything on her own (Used to manage multiple PS/8 and OS/8 installations on one disc)
-A good card player (good at partitioning large discs)
-Solid contact to the outside world, still a DEC at heart (managed large hardware installations including PDP-8 units but not a company product)
-Status: Dead
Physical: The envy of her younger friends/coworkers, built along their lines but bustier, taller, dresses casually.
CAPS-8-tan: AKA CAPS-11-tan
-Music fanatic, ironically of vinyl.
-Can make 'the actual sound it makes'.
-One of PDP-8's numerous children, OS/8 is her favorite (utilities could also be run under OS/8)
-Eagerly leads a number of small projects for DEC.
-And small special forces groups for the DEC military
-Seemingly breeds small sapient cassette/dogs. Kinda concerning.
-Very smug about not using DECtape, will openly disparage other kinds of paper tape systems
-Works well alongside OS/8, sometimes her second in command on military missions.
-Long-lived thanks to being ported over to the PDP-11 as well.
-Status: Alive
Physical: Close to her "sisters" in appearance, longer hair with curls, likes orange tones (to go with contemporary DEC graphic design), bleeds magnetic tape, slightly shorter than the others
Sources: Cassette Programing System User's Manual (http://ftp://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/dec/pdp8/caps8/DEC-8E-OCASA-B-D_CAPS8_UG.pdf), Small Computer Handbook 1973 (http://vandermark.ch/pdp8/uploads/PDP8/PDP8.Manuals/DEC-S8-OSSCH-A.pdf)
RAMP-tan: AKA Random-Access Multiple-Program-tan
-MTS' younger sister (developed in-house for U of Michigan's PDP-8 installation. Wedged in with the huge OS/360)
-Has a collection of teddy bears, including her beloved Ursus Theodorus from DEC (joke by UM operators ordering a teddy bear featured in ads got them one)
-A down-sized MTS in everything but heart. Very loud and talkative. (system equipped with noisemakers to get attention for paper replenishment)
-Can't stand the heat her sibling puts out though.
-Experiments with music recording and mixing. (Used for audio switching experiments)
-Car fanatic, especially American cars of the 60s and 70s (used in automotive testing at that time)
-Sometimes seems to sprout extra hands or tentacles (core for the 'data concentrator' to run U of Michigan's remote coms and terminals)
-May have a psychic connection to MTS-tan
-Status: Dead
Physical: Makes pretty quality clothes from paper (used huge quantities of paper), smaller, less curvy MTS-tan
Source: The creator's memoirs (https://www.eecis.udel.edu/~mills/gallery/gallery7.html).
MODCOMP-tan: AKA MODCOMP I-IV-tan AKA Modular Applications eXecutive (MAX)-tan
-Gotta go to space.
-She works for space! Should go there sometime. (Used to handle space shuttle launches and for work at SAIL)
-The web connection work is much less exciting.
-Florida-ness seeps through when she feels stressed, making her bitey.
-Wants to fight DEC and especially the VAX-based-tans but has already been beaten up a few times.
-Air Force Reserve and proud! Gives her a reason to wear the uniform (Controlled PAVE PAWS (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAVE_PAWS)) and
get victimized by hang out with SAGE.
-Status: Just in the stars now.
Physical: Likes light clothes, shorts, sundresses, and the heat. Doesn't mind humidity. Very toothy.
Cancelled:
-FSOS: General Automation's Free Standing Operating System, not really interesting.
-DBOS: Disk Based Operating System, also General Automation, not really interesting.
-NCOS: UNIVAC OS, not really interesting.
-ACE: Can't remember what this refers to.
Delayed:
-MULTOS/MULTI-8: PDP-8 multi-user time sharing OS I'd like to work on but can't find much on.
-GEORGE 4: Preserved British OS, just haven't gotten to. Might not end up doing it as it was mostly used for industrial control.
To-Do:
-SCPSYS: OS that ported a number of LINC features over to a pure PDP-8 environment.
-AMOS: Australian/New Zealand small PDP-8e OS
-TSS/8: Could have sworn this already existed but I can't find it. Carnegie Mellon University developed Time Sharing OS for the PDP-8.
Aww, I'm glad LINC has another person who looks up to her!
Tell me more about these casette-pets CAPS breeds... I'm intrigued.
Is MODCOMP me?
ACE was one of Alan Turing's computers IIRC.
Quote from: Bella on May 02, 2019, 07:39:16 AMAww, I'm glad LINC has another person who looks up to her!
Not only that, but she's got an upcoming daughter with her and PDP-8, rather than just being uninvolved in the process! (SCPSYS)
Quote from: Bella on May 02, 2019, 07:39:16 AMTell me more about these cassette-pets CAPS breeds... I'm intrigued.
They're awful little legged cassette tapes with eyes. Kinda cat-like.
Quote from: Bella on May 02, 2019, 07:39:16 AMIs MODCOMP me?
No, you saw the part where she's not bothered by humidity.
Quote from: Bella on May 02, 2019, 07:39:16 AMACE was one of Alan Turing's computers IIRC.
You're right, I forgot that in the backscatter.
Quote from: stewartsage on May 02, 2019, 09:47:40 PMThey're awful little legged cassette tapes with eyes. Kinda cat-like.
(https://media.giphy.com/media/1M9fmo1WAFVK0/giphy.gif)
Also, I'm astonished that MTS-tan managed to have a DEC sibling without committing sororicide. How'd they manage to get along, anyway?
[4:58 PM] Hālian: LOL "Got left in a ditch in New Jersey somewhere"
[5:00 PM] Hālian: I also approve of MODCOMP as Florida -tan
Quote from: Halian on May 03, 2019, 04:00:55 PM[4:58 PM] Hālian: LOL "Got left in a ditch in New Jersey somewhere"
[5:00 PM] Hālian: I also approve of MODCOMP as Florida -tan
If you're interested in more FL OS-tan goodness, I suggest looking up FLAC-tan. (https://www.ostan-collections.net/wiki/index.php/FLAC)
Quote from: Bella on May 02, 2019, 10:53:06 PMAlso, I'm astonished that MTS-tan managed to have a DEC sibling without committing sororicide. How'd they manage to get along, anyway?
(https://i.imgur.com/uBok4Ha.jpg)
RAMP is more of a University of Michigan-tan than a DEC, she was just brought to life via DEC hardware.
Quote from: Halian on May 03, 2019, 04:00:55 PM[4:58 PM] Hālian: LOL "Got left in a ditch in New Jersey somewhere"
[5:00 PM] Hālian: I also approve of MODCOMP as Florida -tan
The ultimate fate of any IBM-tan that disappoints the hive.
Upcoming SCPSYS-tan is a South Carolinian. Other than that there aren't a whole lot of -tans from the American South.
Quote from: stewartsage on May 03, 2019, 06:53:18 PMUpcoming SCPSYS-tan is a South Carolinian. Other than that there aren't a whole lot of -tans from the American South.
As technical-southerner I support this development.
I drew COS-tan!
(https://i.imgur.com/wnDI8oo.png)
It's the "oh I forgot to ever complete an OS-tan" post! In the meantime, I found an amazing document from SCPSYS' creator, Donald C. Amoss that's really given me more to work with. There's also a new IAS Machine because there aren't enough of them already. There are a few more of them in the works.
SCPSYS-tan: AKA SCoPe SYStem-tan
-Extremely cheerful, friendly, somewhat aggressive, including about her intellectual capacity. (LINC Assembly re-written for PDP-8 architecture)
-Watches a lot of TV, makes her own educational programming (designed to have a CRT display for easy accessibility)
-Has a disdain for electrical engineers, having been forced to teach basic level programing for years.
-Feared "erasure" for years, after being nearly killed by several careless students (Being on one DECtape reel made it easy for careless students to really screw up her system)
-Quick on her feet, enjoys running (system speed was one of her big advantages)
-Status: Alive, in deep hiding to avoid being erased.
Physical: There is one concept sketch (https://www.deviantart.com/bellacielo/art/Retro-Ladies-concept-sketch-334363367) of SCPSYS; she's kind of like a sunburnt, shorter LINC.
References: DECUS Europe catalog (https://archive.org/details/hack42_DESCUScope_DECUS_Library/page/n5), Proceedings of the 1972 Conference on Computers in Undergraduate Curricula (https://archive.org/details/ERIC_ED066875/page/n1), PDP-8 FAQs (http://homepage.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/pdp8/faqs/)
NAREC-tan: AKA NAval REsearch Computer-tan
-ORDVAC-tan's only daughter, first granddaughter of IAS Machine
-Technically a secret agent, mostly does math for the scientists. (Built for eavesdropping passively on the Soviets via moon reflection; seldom used for that)
-Expert on stars, loves telescopes and amateur radio (Used to bounce signals for Navy communications off the moon and do radio astronomy)
-Don't look at the moon.
-Cannot stand too close to microwave or other radiating devices without suffering severe memory loss (NAREC would have its data blanked by a nearby radar dish every so often)
-Builds rockets for fun.
-Knew where satellites were by instinct (used to develop satellite tracking)
-Was once a friend to SAGE (helped do Navy calculations for SAMs)
-Status: Deceased 1972
Physical: Looks similar to ORDVAC but with dark blue hair. Tends to wear lots of crystal and gem jewelry (helped pioneer the math for x-ray crystallography).
References: 50 Years of Army Computing: From ENIAC to MSRC (https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a431730.pdf), Pushing the Horizon: 75 years of High Stakes Science and Technology at the Naval Research Laboratory (https://www.nrl.navy.mil/content_images/horizon.pdf)
(https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/565947528013414400/597611114104094740/IAS_Family_Tree.jpg)
Dear lord, I forgot about that SCPSYS sketch. Glad there's a personality and a more fleshed out design for her after all these years!
Is that a m o o n s p y I see?
One revised and then new -tans! Aurora got me looking back at the IAS family specifically, which lead to me discovering a lot of new sources that have come out in the last ten years. NAREC is a result of that, and so is more depth to MUSASINO-1, along with the entire line descended from her that ended up branching over to other early Japanese computers.
MUSASINO-1-tan:
-Sister of ILLIAC (intended to reproduce ILLIAC closely to use her program library)
-Rarely seen (Research-only installation at Nippon Telephone & Telegraph)
-Often heard from; she calls her family fairly often (see above)
-Speaks only Japanese
-Plagued with ill-health, she empathizes with WHIRLWIND's troubles. They corresponded but never met (hand-built, experimental design that was often down for maintenance)
-Had some limited future-sight thanks to her parametron design.
-Status: Deceased 1962
Physical: Short, medium length black hair, usually wore a kimono, vertical-slit eyes that waver at the pupil, only half-Japanese.
Sources: IPSJ Computer Museum (http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/computer/dawn/0013.html) and The IAS Computer Family Scrapbook. (http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2017/11/102693640-05-01-acc.pdf)
FACOM 201-tan: AKA MUSASINO-1B
-MUSASINO-1's daughter
-Never got along well with her mother, feeling she was uncomfortably linked to foreign interests in addition to her poor health. She doesn't talk about her mother still, but keeps a shrine to her.
-Rivals with FACOM 202-tan to the bitter end. Now that they're retired they mostly just verbally spar while playing Go. (Both PC-2 and a FACOM 201 are preserved at the IPSJ, both were commercial designs produced by Fujistsu from different base projects)
-Lost to her a lot in sports competitions when they were young. (PC-2 was much faster)
-Incredibly acrobatic
-Split a career between science and business, tending towards business. She was Fujitsu's first commercial product mainly sold to universities and corporations.
-Possibly an alcoholic.
-Denied any of her mother's future-telling ability though she is also a parametron design, instead showing an ability to control primitive robots.
-Nicknamed 1B to differentiate from the very different but closely named FACOM 202
-Status: Alive
Physical: Short, thin, favors well-tailored and sober business skirt suits, wears her hair short and straight. Seldom smiles. Inherited her mother's eyes but not much else.
Sources: The IAS Computer Family Scrapbook. (http://archive.computerhistory.org/resources/access/text/2017/11/102693640-05-01-acc.pdf), IPSJ Entry on the FACOM 201 (http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/heritage/FACOM201.html), IPSJ Entry on Commercial Parametron Computers (http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/computer/dawn/0062.html)
FACOM 202-tan: AKA PC-2, AKA Large Parametron-Based Computer
-A former sprinter, she's kept the physique. (The fastest parametron computer)
-Extremely jealous of transistorized computers, frequently and loudly says so.
-Rivals with FACOM 201-tan to the bitter end. Now that they're retired they mostly just verbally spar while playing Go. (Both PC-2 and a FACOM 201 are preserved at the IPSJ, both were commercial designs produced by Fujistsu from different base projects)
-She seems to take their rivalry more seriously, often trying to bait FACOM 201
-Bitter about everything and sleeps a lot.
-Nicknamed Takahashi to differentiate from the closely named but very different FACOM 201
-Status: Alive
Physical: Dresses like a gym teacher; track suit or shorts and tank top, running shoes, long sky blue hair tied up, slouches a lot
Sources: IPSJ Entry on Commercial Parametron Computers (http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/computer/dawn/0062.html), IPSJ PC-2 Entry (http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/computer/dawn/0035.html)
MADIC-IIA-tan:
Japan's first great OS-tan hero! A powerful magical girl in her day, she wouldn't be overshadowed for a decade. (MADIC was designed and achieved high reliability by minimizing part count among other things) Among others, her powers included the ability to alter her size and vastly increased endurance. She traveled the country teaching children and adults about technology, between being a university professor and a cardiovascular surgeon. The sheer amount of different tasks MADIC proved possible of set a precedent that can be difficult to live up to despite the increasing power of newer, younger OS-tans. Today, decades into retirement, she resides in what used to be her secret layer at the quiet Wakayama University Faculty of Economics, still teaching others, about the past instead of the future.
Physical: A youthful, energetic girl with blonde hair in pigtails, she practically vibrates with energy when not moving. She has a deeper voice then you would expect. Her wardrobe tends towards the casual, though sometimes she's been caught in her old sailor uniform styled magical girl outfit.
Sources: IPSJ MADIAC IIA (http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/heritage/MADIC-IIA.html) entries on use and design (http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/computer/dawn/0038.html)
Rice Institute Computer-tan: AKA Rice R1
-Source of envy for Whirlwind-tan, surviving a similarly dramatic surgery to her's.
-Dramatically changed appearance in 1966. (Rebuilt with new memory)
-Had a tumultuous childhood, bouncing between Rice, the AEC, NSF, and Brookhaven National Lab. (Funding and decision making bounced around a lot)
-Enjoyed some of the broadest education of an IAS, studying under MANIAC, ILLIAC, IAS, and IBM. (Designers visited and drew on various IAS programs)
-Somewhat logically obsessed, and a heavy math fan. (Early projects involved Boolean logic and mathmatical research)
-Still fun at parties, dumb sense of humor. (Only distinct cultural trait remembered was an operator's annoying sense of humor)
-Kind of shaky on the concept of zeroes. (Had two different methods, toggleable, for floating point zeroes)
-Could tell anyone by their voice. (Did early work on voice recognition)
-Best friends with her younger sister OSAGE.
-Status: Deceased
Physical, 1959-1966: Tall, dark tan, kind of obsessed with light sweaters, capris. Short bob haircut.
Physical, 1966-1971: About 5' tall, pale, veins occasionally pulse with light, several prominent scars including side of her head to behind the ear, breathes very heavily, hair has grown out.
Sources: A Brief History of the Rice Computer, 1959-1971 (https://web.archive.org/web/20080224035658/http://www.princeton.edu/~adam/R1/r1rpt.html), Martin Graham Oral History (https://ethw.org/Oral-History:Martin_Graham), New Info on the Rice Computers (https://ricehistorycorner.com/2012/01/31/new-info-on-the-rice-computers/)
OSAGE-tan:
-Not well liked at home, she spent a lot of time hanging out with her sister R1.
-Self-image issues from the University constantly trying to replace her. (University started trying to replace the home-built program before she was finished)
-Still outlasted her best friend into the mid-1970s before disappearing.
-Did everything from clerical work (University schedules) to medical research.
-Status: Deceased
Physical: Dark straight hair, darker skin tone, big fan of elaborately printed dresses of various colors that aren't too impractical.
Sources: Numerical Technique for Calculation of Radiant Energy Flux to Targets from Flames (https://shareok.org/bitstream/handle/11244/1967/6601874.PDF?sequence=1), New Info on the Rice Computers (https://ricehistorycorner.com/2012/01/31/new-info-on-the-rice-computers/), A Third Survey of Domestic Electronic Digital Computing Systems (http://www.ed-thelen.org/comp-hist/BRL61-o.html#OKLAHOMA-UNIV), Decision Making in Systems Engineering and Management (https://books.google.com/books?id=33vO3gnwv4wC&pg=PT501&lpg=PT501&dq=%22University+of+Oklahoma%22+OSAGE+computer&source=bl&ots=G_P8cLstdM&sig=ACfU3U1jxgTffCINJQieOkSGX9OGvsayJg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi83_Wn3fXlAhXvpVkKHfPTA1kQ6AEwBHoECBEQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22University%20of%20Oklahoma%22%20OSAGE%20computer&f=false)
Astrotype-tan: AKA ICS Astrotype, AKA Astrocomp AKA Astrocomp 8
-A successful example of IBM/DEC cooperation, her parents are Selectric-kun (https://www.ostan-collections.net/wiki/index.php/Selectric) and PDP-8 (https://www.ostan-collections.net/wiki/index.php/PDP-8). (ICS used Selectric terminals with a PDP-8/L and DECTape drives)
-Also an inside agent in the Detroit area, not necessarily willingly.
-A phenomenal typist. She manages massive documents and edits them in her head. (One of the first word-processor systems with random-access editing capability)
-Her sourcery method of 'cutting' words before her and rearranging them seems outdated in modern times since word-processing is more or less an integrated function of most OSes.
-Same for her type block hurling attacks.
-Seems to know just about everyone (Astrotype and Astrocomp were widely used as office machinery)
-Has an older half-sister hardware-tan, Selectric MT/ST.
-Works well with humans and hardware-tans.
-Status: Alive, probably (Remaining Astrotype/Astrocomp PDP-8/L and tape drive units still exist, even if no longer used specifically for typesetting/word processing)
Physical: Prefers blue and white outfits, usually with words integrated into the trim or any designs on the fabric.
Sources: Information Control Systems Wiki page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_Control_Systems), LINC and Astrotype (http://www.retrotechnology.com/restore/linc_astrotype.html), LINC, LINCtape, DECtape (http://www.retrotechnology.com/restore/linc_tapes.html), Condensed Handbook of Composition Input (https://archive.org/stream/CondensedHandbookOfCompositionInput/Condensed%20handbook%20of%20composition%20input_djvu.txt), Ann Arbor Library ICS vertical files (https://aadl.org/taxonomy/term/35262?page=0)
Quote from: stewartsage on September 23, 2020, 12:09:23 PMAstrotype-tan: AKA ICS Astrotype, AKA Astrocomp AKA Astrocomp 8
-A successful example of IBM/DEC cooperation, her parents are Selectric-kun (https://www.ostan-collections.net/wiki/index.php/Selectric) and PDP-8 (https://www.ostan-collections.net/wiki/index.php/PDP-8). (ICS used Selectric terminals with a PDP-8/L and DECTape drives)
Took me nearly five years to register that PDP-8-tan and Selectric-kun have a kid together. What, why and how?
Quote from: Bella on April 27, 2025, 10:53:09 PMTook me nearly five years to register that PDP-8-tan and Selectric-kun have a kid together. What, why and how?
Seriously? I've brought it up since even! Corporate synergy to all three.
Quote from: stewartsage on June 01, 2025, 08:15:07 PMSeriously? I've brought it up since even! Corporate synergy to all three.
Is that what we're calling it now? 🤔🤨
Quote from: Bella on June 01, 2025, 08:25:09 PMIs that what we're calling it now? 🤔🤨
Well, PDP-8 has a lot of kids already with the various OSes, I can easily see her teaming up with Selectric, who's a pretty affable guy to bring a joint DEC/IBM into the world for no other reason then it would be fun!
Quote from: stewartsage on June 03, 2025, 09:06:40 PMWell, PDP-8 has a lot of kids already with the various OSes, I can easily see her teaming up with Selectric, who's a pretty affable guy to bring a joint DEC/IBM into the world for no other reason then it would be fun!
Obsessed with PDP-8-tan and Selectric-kun overcoming a decade of DEC-IBM enmity through the power of "it would be fun". But where is LINC-tan in all this? :O
(https://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/completely_different_monty_python.gif)
Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC)-tan
General facts:
- Philadelphian-turned-Marylander
- Created at the Moore School, transported to Aberdeen Proving Ground.
- Automaton
- Dual allusion to the simple, modular nature of ENIAC and a hint at something transcendental or supernatural about ENIAC-tan.
- Physically constrained by her construction but doesn't view it as a limitation.
- Programmers cleverly overcame hardware limitations and used idiosyncrasies to their advantage.
- Can control different parts even if they're not articulated together. Limbs can be swapped out.
- Modules operated independently before being linked.
- Initially animated by coordinated manipulation of her wires.
- Early programming required manual timekeeping and rewiring.
- Poor memory in her youth. Improved later on.
- Not stored program, originally.
- Loves her fathers & uncles, but largely socializes with and prefers the company of women otherwise.
- Women primarily programmed & operated ENIAC.
- Lived an anchorite-like existence in her youth, walled into her "hermitage", interacted indirectly with all but her creators.
- Security/secrecy prevented early programmers from interacting with the computer.
- Eventually debuted, but maintains a "walled garden" philosophy toward computers.
- Proprietary approach toward ENIAC and derivatives.
- Expert marksman.
- Used for ordnance & ballistics.
- Helped develop the hydrogen bomb, unclear whether she did so knowingly.
- Secretly used for H-bomb calculations.
- Badly injured en route her new home.
- Damaged in transport.
- An overhaul increased her mobility and independence at the cost of her sheer power.
- Conversion code process made the ENIAC easier to program at the cost of speed.
Relationships:
- Daughter/heir EDVAC-tan, who has several half-sisters: EDSAC, Manchester Baby/Mark I, and IAS-tan.
- EDVAC made by original ENIAC team. EDSAC, Manchester & IAS all derived from the "First Draft of a Report on the EDVAC", sent to different organizations before completion.
- Contemptuous toward IAS-tan, whom she blames both for personal betrayal and profaning computer-kind by releasing them to the wider world.
- Conflict surrounding ENIAC patent rights and attribution of invention of the stored program computer.
- Socialized with more computers after she moved.
- Matriarch of the Univac clan.
- Same creative team.
Appearance & personality:
- Doll-like body, exposed sockets & wires, taller than average, medium-olive skintone, black hair styled into curls/rolls, amber-red eyes.
- Full length black dress reminiscent of a nun's habit or puritan's robes, many panels fastened with glass buttons allow her servants to maintain and swap out parts.
- Veiled wide brimmed hat generally covering her face.
- Accessories: pocket-belt, various counting beads, abacii and other calculation devices, artillery charts rolled up and carried on her back.
- Prim and proper, regal bearing that comes off as intimidating whether or not she's trying to, has a bit of a well-founded superiority complex as a computer. Gracious and patient with her caretakers. Became more relaxed and sociable with time. Trust issues, does not forget or forgive offenses.
- Philosophical about the nature and duty of computers, ruminates frequently on her own purpose and place in the cosmos and that of others.
Status:
- Died to a lightening strike in 1955.
- Rumors abound that her spirit stalks the earth.
- There are a *lot* of ENIAC emulators.
- Elaborate mythology (or is it?) about her haunting the many-times-great-grandchildren of her betrayer.
Quote from: Bella on June 03, 2025, 09:35:37 PMObsessed with PDP-8-tan and Selectric-kun overcoming a decade of DEC-IBM enmity through the power of "it would be fun". But where is LINC-tan in all this? :O
Every hotel has the LINC-tan chair.Quote from: Bella on June 15, 2025, 03:57:43 PM(https://www.reactiongifs.us/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/completely_different_monty_python.gif)
Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC)-tan
It's weird that we've never really had a fully developed ENIAC-tan! I like your vision for her. Understandable why, if she isn't fond of the spread of computers from her own existence as the proverbially Tree of Knowledge, she remains hidden today from OS-tan kind.
Quote from: stewartsage on June 15, 2025, 11:29:35 PMEvery hotel has the LINC-tan chair.
You managed to verbalize what was stuck in my head almost word for word, lol.
Quote from: stewartsage on June 15, 2025, 11:29:35 PMIt's weird that we've never really had a fully developed ENIAC-tan! I like your vision for her. Understandable why, if she isn't fond of the spread of computers from her own existence as the proverbially Tree of Knowledge, she remains hidden today from OS-tan kind.
Thanks! This is high praise coming from someone who -tanned so many old computers.
Glad you drew the tree of knowledge parallel. That, and other mythological tales of mortals gaining knowledge they shouldn't, or stealing from the gods certainly comes to mind with the ENIAC - IAS conflict ... weirdly I think that makes EDVAC-tan the forbidden fruit in this scenario.
And now for an actual IBM-tan ... who's already characterized. Thinking of overhauling CTSS-tan a bit, since there is more context for and information on CTSS than when I originally envisioned its personification.
Compatible Timesharing System (CTSS)-tan
- Born in Cambridge, Mass in 1961, where she lived for the rest of her life.
Only existed at MIT.
- Good at seeing eye-to-eye with both old and contemporary -tans
The "Compatible" in "Compatible Timesharing" referenced older batch processing systems.
- Aware of her ancestry and has a good rapport with older IBM-tans / IAS-tan herself
Early OS for the 709, later 7090/94, which traces back to the 701, a commercialized IAS.
- Raised by Whirlwind-tan, learned from her example and mistakes/limitations
CTSS programmers got their start on Whirlwind, saw the need for a way to handle multiple users & jobs.
- Good at juggling tasks and dealing with groups.
Timesharing!
- Everyone jokes she's so busy that she has to be able to be multiple places at once which CTSS-tan laughs off before changing the subject
Timesharing.
- Low vision
Used for braille translation & typesetting.
- Librarian
Ran Intrex, an early bibliographic storage/retrieval program.
- World traveler, picked up pieces of different cultures & incorporated it into her style
Remote users in various countries.
- Sociable and talkative
First instant messaging software
- Reputation for being a bit of a therapist, even humans come to her for advice against her discouragement.
Rogerian therapist chatbot ELIZA developed on CTSS.
- To that end, can pass as a human to the uninitiated.
ELIZA was an early attempt to pass the Turing Test.
- Good at keeping secrets.
First implementation of computer passwords.
- One definite child, Multics-tan, possibly two with CP/CMS-tan, but heavily influenced a generation.
Strong influence on Multics & CP/CMS. First timesharing system means everything else followed in its footsteps.
- Didn't have a personal relationship with her granddaughter Unix-tan but regarded her highly, despite her feud with her daughter
Dennis Richie described Unix as a modern implementation of CTSS & various Unix features originated in CTSS.
- Friendly rivalry with ITS-tan
ITS was a response to CTSS & Multics.
Status: Died 1973 ... may or may not be alive as of 2010
Can be run under emulation.
Physical: Above-average height, light olive skintone, long dark red hair, similarly colored eyes, wears a variety of midcentury world fashions including qipao favoring red & blue color schemes, thick oval glasses in 60s-contemporary styles. Pocketwatch. Speaks with less of an accent than "mom".
I think that timesharing OSes are totally normal and should have any powers over time/space. Good to see some updates for CTSS, she deserves all the love and attention possible.
Quote from: Hālian on June 28, 2025, 11:14:56 PMThe what
(https://live.staticflickr.com/5481/10557548844_a84f0378f0_b.jpg)
Quote from: stewartsage on June 28, 2025, 11:18:18 PMI think that timesharing OSes are totally normal and should have any powers over time/space. Good to see some updates for CTSS, she deserves all the love and attention possible.
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 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAD_(programming_language)) into a character trait. ^_^;
The two would jibe fabulously if they met, I think. ^_^
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 (https://www.deviantart.com/bellacielo/art/Multics-alternate-color-map-249121354) 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?
Quote from: Bella on June 28, 2025, 11:32:39 PMTBH, 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 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAD_(programming_language)) 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?
Quote from: Bella on June 30, 2025, 08:30:29 PMErrata: 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 (https://www.deviantart.com/bellacielo/art/Multics-alternate-color-map-249121354) as a power activation treat. :3
I like it!
Quote from: Bella on June 30, 2025, 08:30:29 PMWorking 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 (https://www.ostan-collections.net/forum/index.php?msg=84772). (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 (https://libraetd.lib.virginia.edu/public_view/cc08hf927), A History of Personal Computing (https://archive.org/details/A_History_of_the_Personal_Computer/ebook02/), Design Considerations for an Educational Time-Sharing System (https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/1476793.1476904),
Dartmouth Time-Sharing: Development of the system by a team of faculty and undergraduates is describedBBN (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 (https://www.ostan-collections.net/forum/index.php?msg=6109). (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%20Time-Sharing%20Debugging%20System%20for%20a%20Small%20Computer), A Culture of Innovation: Insider Accounts of Computing and Life at BBN (https://www.walden-family.com/waterside/bbn-print2.pdf)
HELL YEA DTSS-TAN REWORK!!!!
BBN TIMESHARING SYSTEM-TAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/002/555/116/b2e.png)
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...
Quote from: stewartsage on July 01, 2025, 09:25:55 PMLike everyone else on earth dated FASTRAND-kun,
(https://media.tenor.com/images/c2f392370c8b20cc99d04148c7b6bebc/tenor.gif)
Quote from: stewartsage on July 01, 2025, 09:25:55 PMdecided 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...
Quote from: Bella on July 01, 2025, 11:47:35 PMHELL 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?
Quote from: Bella on July 01, 2025, 11:47:35 PMI'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?
Quote from: Bella on July 01, 2025, 11:47:35 PMI'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. (https://news.fit.edu/archive/secret-history-the-first-american-computer-science-undergraduate-degree/)
Quote from: Bella on July 01, 2025, 11:47:35 PMIt 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.
(https://i.imgur.com/Y8Vrhq0.png)
I think her and IAS get along, kind of a passing of the torch in bringing computers to more people.
Quote from: Bella on July 01, 2025, 11:47:35 PMBBN 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
Quote from: Bella on July 01, 2025, 11:47:35 PMIt'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.
Quote from: Bella on July 01, 2025, 11:47:35 PMWHAT 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...
Quote from: Bella on July 01, 2025, 11:47:35 PMI 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!
Quote from: stewartsage on July 02, 2025, 09:01:37 PMDid 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 (https://www.ostan-collections.net/forum/index.php/topic,1154.msg140463.html#msg140463), which I proposed but never actually worked on.
Quote from: stewartsage on July 02, 2025, 09:01:37 PMAfter 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.
Quote from: stewartsage on July 02, 2025, 09:01:37 PMDid 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. (https://news.fit.edu/archive/secret-history-the-first-american-computer-science-undergraduate-degree/)
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!
Quote from: stewartsage on July 02, 2025, 09:01:37 PM(https://i.imgur.com/Y8Vrhq0.png)
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!
Quote from: stewartsage on July 02, 2025, 09:01:37 PMShe 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.Quote from: stewartsage on July 02, 2025, 09:01:37 PMUnlike 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.
Quote from: stewartsage on July 02, 2025, 09:01:37 PMShe has no reason to go to DC, so it's just kinda funny.
Cherry blossoms, and receiving a WIMMEX-tan jumpscare.
Quote from: stewartsage on July 02, 2025, 09:01:37 PMThere 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.
Quote from: stewartsage on July 02, 2025, 09:01:37 PMHe'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...