From 59e6e9fa355ddaa83940ac1e015a9e103ab53c21 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Larry Masinter Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2023 08:21:48 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 1/7] WIP, trying to rewrite project overview --- content/en/history/_index.md | 60 ++++++++++++++++++++++ content/en/project/_index.md | 23 +-------- content/en/software/using-medley/_index.md | 1 + 3 files changed, 63 insertions(+), 21 deletions(-) diff --git a/content/en/history/_index.md b/content/en/history/_index.md index bbce73735..b0e1b7e54 100644 --- a/content/en/history/_index.md +++ b/content/en/history/_index.md @@ -14,6 +14,66 @@ Interlisp evolved from an interactive terminal style programming tool to Interli Development of the system moved from Xerox PARC to a Xerox AI Systems division, to a spin-out company called Envos, to a smaller company called Venue. The system was called Interlisp, Interlisp-D, and various named releases (Koto, Lyric, Medley) until the name "Medley" was used for the whole thing. +### Another short history + +The 1970s and 80s saw major advances in computing and Human-Computer interaction. At Xerox PARC there were three IDEs developed with different approaches: Smalltalk, with an object-oriented system; Interlisp, for researchers in AI and exploratory development; Cedar/Mesa, with a strongly typed language. They each had a different model for source code management, development and versioning. In common they shared an infrastructure and vision of computing and distributed systems, with support for Ethernet networking, printing, file servers and network protocols. Each environment had its own Virtual Machine instruction set tuned for the language "all the way down", in a single address space, in a way that opened the systems to customization. + +There were several different [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf): Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak, and others. Each environment had its own microcode to implement its instruction set; once loaded, each would take over the machine -- there was no separate OS. Each had large-screen black and white CRTs for a graphical user interface, mouse and cursor pointer, high quality fonts. + +Xerox marketed the Interlisp-D enviornment primarily to the AI community world wide, starting in 1980, from XEOS to Xerox Artificial Intelligence Systems, then a spin-out company called Envos, and then further development and porting to other systems by a company called Venue, until development tapered off. Along the way, the name changed from Interlisp-D to Medley. + +We started with sources from Venue for what was intended to be Medley 3.5. +The 1970s and 80s saw major advances in computing and Human-Computer interaction. At Xerox PARC there were three IDEs developed with different approaches: Smalltalk, with an object-oriented system; Interlisp, for researchers in AI and exploratory development; Cedar/Mesa, with a strongly typed language. They each had a different model for source code management, development and versioning. In common they shared an infrastructure and vision of computing and distributed systems, with support for Ethernet networking, printing, file servers and network protocols. Each environment had its own Virtual Machine instruction set tuned for the language "all the way down", in a single address space, in a way that opened the systems to customization. + +There were several different [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf): Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak, and others. Each environment had its own microcode to implement its instruction set; once loaded, each would take over the machine -- there was no separate OS. Each had large-screen black and white CRTs for a graphical user interface, mouse and cursor pointer, high quality fonts. + +Xerox marketed the Interlisp-D enviornment primarily to the AI community world wide, starting in 1980, from XEOS to Xerox Artificial Intelligence Systems, then a spin-out company called Envos, and then further development and porting to other systems by a company called Venue, until development tapered off. Along the way, the name changed from Interlisp-D to Medley. + +We started with sources from Venue for what was intended to be Medley 3.5. +The 1970s and 80s saw major advances in computing and Human-Computer interaction. At Xerox PARC there were three IDEs developed with different approaches: Smalltalk, with an object-oriented system; Interlisp, for researchers in AI and exploratory development; Cedar/Mesa, with a strongly typed language. They each had a different model for source code management, development and versioning. In common they shared an infrastructure and vision of computing and distributed systems, with support for Ethernet networking, printing, file servers and network protocols. Each environment had its own Virtual Machine instruction set tuned for the language "all the way down", in a single address space, in a way that opened the systems to customization. + +There were several different [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf): Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak, and others. Each environment had its own microcode to implement its instruction set; once loaded, each would take over the machine -- there was no separate OS. Each had large-screen black and white CRTs for a graphical user interface, mouse and cursor pointer, high quality fonts. + +Xerox marketed the Interlisp-D enviornment primarily to the AI community world wide, starting in 1980, from XEOS to Xerox Artificial Intelligence Systems, then a spin-out company called Envos, and then further development and porting to other systems by a company called Venue, until development tapered off. Along the way, the name changed from Interlisp-D to Medley. + +We started with sources from Venue for what was intended to be Medley 3.5. +The 1970s and 80s saw major advances in computing and Human-Computer interaction. At Xerox PARC there were three IDEs developed with different approaches: Smalltalk, with an object-oriented system; Interlisp, for researchers in AI and exploratory development; Cedar/Mesa, with a strongly typed language. They each had a different model for source code management, development and versioning. In common they shared an infrastructure and vision of computing and distributed systems, with support for Ethernet networking, printing, file servers and network protocols. Each environment had its own Virtual Machine instruction set tuned for the language "all the way down", in a single address space, in a way that opened the systems to customization. + +There were several different [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf): Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak, and others. Each environment had its own microcode to implement its instruction set; once loaded, each would take over the machine -- there was no separate OS. Each had large-screen black and white CRTs for a graphical user interface, mouse and cursor pointer, high quality fonts. + +Xerox marketed the Interlisp-D enviornment primarily to the AI community world wide, starting in 1980, from XEOS to Xerox Artificial Intelligence Systems, then a spin-out company called Envos, and then further development and porting to other systems by a company called Venue, until development tapered off. Along the way, the name changed from Interlisp-D to Medley. + +We started with sources from Venue for what was intended to be Medley 3.5. +The 1970s and 80s saw major advances in computing and Human-Computer interaction. At Xerox PARC there were three IDEs developed with different approaches: Smalltalk, with an object-oriented system; Interlisp, for researchers in AI and exploratory development; Cedar/Mesa, with a strongly typed language. They each had a different model for source code management, development and versioning. In common they shared an infrastructure and vision of computing and distributed systems, with support for Ethernet networking, printing, file servers and network protocols. Each environment had its own Virtual Machine instruction set tuned for the language "all the way down", in a single address space, in a way that opened the systems to customization. + +There were several different [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf): Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak, and others. Each environment had its own microcode to implement its instruction set; once loaded, each would take over the machine -- there was no separate OS. Each had large-screen black and white CRTs for a graphical user interface, mouse and cursor pointer, high quality fonts. + +Xerox marketed the Interlisp-D enviornment primarily to the AI community world wide, starting in 1980, from XEOS to Xerox Artificial Intelligence Systems, then a spin-out company called Envos, and then further development and porting to other systems by a company called Venue, until development tapered off. Along the way, the name changed from Interlisp-D to Medley. + +We started with sources from Venue for what was intended to be Medley 3.5. +The 1970s and 80s saw major advances in computing and Human-Computer interaction. At Xerox PARC there were three IDEs developed with different approaches: Smalltalk, with an object-oriented system; Interlisp, for researchers in AI and exploratory development; Cedar/Mesa, with a strongly typed language. They each had a different model for source code management, development and versioning. In common they shared an infrastructure and vision of computing and distributed systems, with support for Ethernet networking, printing, file servers and network protocols. Each environment had its own Virtual Machine instruction set tuned for the language "all the way down", in a single address space, in a way that opened the systems to customization. + +There were several different [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf): Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak, and others. Each environment had its own microcode to implement its instruction set; once loaded, each would take over the machine -- there was no separate OS. Each had large-screen black and white CRTs for a graphical user interface, mouse and cursor pointer, high quality fonts. + +Xerox marketed the Interlisp-D enviornment primarily to the AI community world wide, starting in 1980, from XEOS to Xerox Artificial Intelligence Systems, then a spin-out company called Envos, and then further development and porting to other systems by a company called Venue, until development tapered off. Along the way, the name changed from Interlisp-D to Medley. + +We started with sources from Venue for what was intended to be Medley 3.5. +The 1970s and 80s saw major advances in computing and Human-Computer interaction. At Xerox PARC there were three IDEs developed with different approaches: Smalltalk, with an object-oriented system; Interlisp, for researchers in AI and exploratory development; Cedar/Mesa, with a strongly typed language. They each had a different model for source code management, development and versioning. In common they shared an infrastructure and vision of computing and distributed systems, with support for Ethernet networking, printing, file servers and network protocols. Each environment had its own Virtual Machine instruction set tuned for the language "all the way down", in a single address space, in a way that opened the systems to customization. + +There were several different [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf): Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak, and others. Each environment had its own microcode to implement its instruction set; once loaded, each would take over the machine -- there was no separate OS. Each had large-screen black and white CRTs for a graphical user interface, mouse and cursor pointer, high quality fonts. + +Xerox marketed the Interlisp-D enviornment primarily to the AI community world wide, starting in 1980, from XEOS to Xerox Artificial Intelligence Systems, then a spin-out company called Envos, and then further development and porting to other systems by a company called Venue, until development tapered off. Along the way, the name changed from Interlisp-D to Medley. + +We started with sources from Venue for what was intended to be Medley 3.5. +The 1970s and 80s saw major advances in computing and Human-Computer interaction. At Xerox PARC there were three IDEs developed with different approaches: Smalltalk, with an object-oriented system; Interlisp, for researchers in AI and exploratory development; Cedar/Mesa, with a strongly typed language. They each had a different model for source code management, development and versioning. In common they shared an infrastructure and vision of computing and distributed systems, with support for Ethernet networking, printing, file servers and network protocols. Each environment had its own Virtual Machine instruction set tuned for the language "all the way down", in a single address space, in a way that opened the systems to customization. + +There were several different [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf): Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak, and others. Each environment had its own microcode to implement its instruction set; once loaded, each would take over the machine -- there was no separate OS. Each had large-screen black and white CRTs for a graphical user interface, mouse and cursor pointer, high quality fonts. + +Xerox marketed the Interlisp-D enviornment primarily to the AI community world wide, starting in 1980, from XEOS to Xerox Artificial Intelligence Systems, then a spin-out company called Envos, and then further development and porting to other systems by a company called Venue, until development tapered off. Along the way, the name changed from Interlisp-D to Medley. + +We started with sources from Venue for what was intended to be Medley 3.5. + + ### Detailed History A more extensive history of Interlisp can be found in the [Interlisp Timeline](timeline). The [Interlisp Bibliography](bibliography) has a wealth of historical material. diff --git a/content/en/project/_index.md b/content/en/project/_index.md index 00089f5b7..01b09fb58 100644 --- a/content/en/project/_index.md +++ b/content/en/project/_index.md @@ -1,5 +1,5 @@ --- -title: Project +title: The Medley Interlisp Project: Reviving a Groundbreaking System weight: 2 type: docs aliases: @@ -8,19 +8,6 @@ aliases: - /medley/about/ - /medley/other/ --- -## What is the Medley Interlisp Project? - -The Medley Interlisp Project was created to revive Medley Interlisp. - -Because Interlisp has been around a long time, with multiple iterations, you might find the multitude of names for the Interlisp language and related companies confusing. To assist, we have created a [glossary of terms](glossary) used on this website. - -## What are the origins of Interlisp? Why do we care? - -The 1970s and 80s saw major advances in computing and Human-Computer interaction. Interlisp was one of the many experimental systems developed during these heady times. It represents an early example of a system with a GUI (Graphical User Interface), and IDE (Integrated Development Environment). - -Within the Xerox PARC environment, it was an early example of a network enabled machine supporting email, file sharing, printing and more. In essence it was a forerunner of today's computing systems. - -Medley Interlisp represents the last Xerox Interlisp release. Medley continued Xerox PARC's experimentation with developing systems for [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf). A family of computers (Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak) resulted. The project was later spun out to a company called Envos, which then turned into Venue. ## What are we trying to accomplish? @@ -40,12 +27,6 @@ We have done a lot of cleanup and adaptation to make Interlisp Medley usable aga We've also been working on integration of the Interlisp style development with git and GitHub, Docker and other modern components. -
- - How do I access and use Medley? - -
- ## Who is involved? We are some of the original developers and users of the system 30 years ago, joined by newcomers interested in software history and preservation, along with members of the Lisp community. We work with [organizational partners](partners). And with you! @@ -56,7 +37,7 @@ We are some of the original developers and users of the system 30 years ago, joi -## Check out this presentation for more information +## Why? A presentation from the 2020 Remote Chaos Experience conference highlights some of the interesting aspects of Interlisp. diff --git a/content/en/software/using-medley/_index.md b/content/en/software/using-medley/_index.md index 84fcd279c..f53bcc6cb 100644 --- a/content/en/software/using-medley/_index.md +++ b/content/en/software/using-medley/_index.md @@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ type: docs aliases: - /medley/using/docs/medley/orientation/ - /docs/ + - /doc/info/Using - /hugo/documentation - /using-medley/ - /medley/using/ From aae32a57ebe4bdfc3c70d5ef5bd038df5d1cc947 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Larry Masinter Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2023 21:25:14 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 2/7] merge News and Status... wording changes to projecdtds page --- content/en/project/_index.md | 21 +++++----- content/en/project/news/_index.md | 64 ----------------------------- content/en/project/status/_index.md | 12 +++++- 3 files changed, 21 insertions(+), 76 deletions(-) delete mode 100644 content/en/project/news/_index.md diff --git a/content/en/project/_index.md b/content/en/project/_index.md index 01b09fb58..f516cba9b 100644 --- a/content/en/project/_index.md +++ b/content/en/project/_index.md @@ -11,34 +11,35 @@ aliases: ## What are we trying to accomplish? -Our aim is to allow *Medley Interlisp* to "live again": usable on modern systems, sufficient to allow someone to develop some code and experience what it was like to use this groundbreaking system. You could think of this as a kind of "*vintage software*" project, to try to capture the sense of fluidity in the development cycle. +Our aim is to allow Medley to "live again": to be useable enough on modern systema that someone could develop some code and experience what it was like to use this groundbreaking system. You could think of this as a kind of "*vintage software*" project, to try to capture the sense of fluidity in the development cycle. -We hope to provide a platform for demonstration of early experiments of hypertext (Notecards), Desktop management (Rooms), Object-oriented programming (LOOPS), as well as Interlisp itself. +We also hope to provide a platform for revival of systems developed using Interlisp., including 1980's work in hypertext (Notecards), desktop management (Rooms), and object-oriented programming (LOOPS). ## What are our challenges? -Since we aim to revive Medley Interlisp to support not just a demo or test drive, but actual use as a development and learning tool, we need to overcome a number of compatibility problems with current systems and interfaces. +Being compatible with modern systems requires compensating for changes input and output channels. Mouse, cursor, scroll wheels need to function in the expected way. Support for the plethora of different keyboard layouts available today requires rearchitecting some of the lowest levels of stream handling. The replacement of the "XCCS" (Xerox Character Code Standard) with Unicode isn't complete. Today's screens are bigger. CPUs are multi-threading, Big-endian 64-bit character codes. Three-button mouse vs. one button. Subtle bugs because of change of address space. -We also want to restore and present earlier versions of Interlisp, for the student of computer history. For more information go to [Interlisp and Software Preservation Network](https://www.softwarepreservationnetwork.org/Interlisp/). +We also want to restore and present earlier versions of Interlisp, for the student of computer history. -## What have we done so far? +We have done a lot of cleanup and adaptation, to make Medley usable again in the modern world. Among other developments, you can now run Medley Interlisp on many OS and hardware configurations, or in the cloud, using a web browser. -We have done a lot of cleanup and adaptation to make Interlisp Medley usable again in the modern world. Among other developments, you can now run Medley Interlisp on many OS and hardware configurations, or in the cloud, using a web browser. - -We've also been working on integration of the Interlisp style development with git and GitHub, Docker and other modern components. +We have also developed tools for managing the GitHub workflow, to integrate the Interlisp style development with git and GitHub, Docker and other modern components. ## Who is involved? -We are some of the original developers and users of the system 30 years ago, joined by newcomers interested in software history and preservation, along with members of the Lisp community. We work with [organizational partners](partners). And with you! +We are [some of the original developers and users of Interlisp](/project/credits) 30 years ago, joined by newcomers interested in software history and preservation, along with members of the Lisp community. We work with [organizational partners](partners). And with you!
How do I get involved? - +a
## Why? +People have [different stories](stories) for why they are interested. + + A presentation from the 2020 Remote Chaos Experience conference highlights some of the interesting aspects of Interlisp. [What have we lost?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RNbIEJvjUA&t=841s) diff --git a/content/en/project/news/_index.md b/content/en/project/news/_index.md deleted file mode 100644 index e8f3ebc9d..000000000 --- a/content/en/project/news/_index.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,64 +0,0 @@ ---- -title: News -weight: 10 -type: docs -aliases: - - /hugo/news/ - - /medley/project/news/ - ---- - -### 2023 Annual Report (in preparation) - -Sneak Peek: We are working on our [2023 Medley Interlisp Annual Report](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yL1WeYvgu5JstWyjD3fWl1mDZv8kIr_U3_1onSWvUko/edit?usp=sharing). Still a work in progress -- don't distribute until we announce it ready. - -### 3/2023 - -Bay Area Lisp talk: - - - -Drafts and final versions of slide decks can be found [here](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wQZ9F-doxx5gsGaQ7gKtOa5AObJalNJ9?usp=sharing) - -## 12/2022 -* [2022 Annual Report](/project/status/2022medleyannualreport) - -## 9/2022 -* Newcomers welcome! - -## 6/2022 -* Documentation update. We're updating the project documentation. Feel free to make suggestions for improvement -* Significant development of integration with GitHub (via the GITFNS module) for doing a Lisp-based PR review workflow - -## 3/2022 - -* [Interlisp Online](https://online.interlisp.org) new version! Many new/improved features. From any (recent) browser. Medley is running "in the cloud" and you connect to it (and your account) over the web -* Medley [Documentation](https://github.com/Interlisp/medley/wiki/Documentation). We've been updating the online documentation at least for getting started -- instructions on Running in various contexts and Building and Using -* Interlisp.Org has been approved as tax-exempt by California Franchise Tax Board and the California AG, State Charity Registration Number: [CT0278267](https://rct.doj.ca.gov/Verification/Web/Search.aspx?facility=Y) -* We have joined (as an "implementation sponsor") the [Software Preservation Network](https://www.softwarepreservationnetwork.org/). See [Interlisp and SPN](https://www.softwarepreservationnetwork.org/Interlisp/) for more information -* Many updates to Medley features and files; most [releases](https://github.com/Interlisp/medley/releases) have a 'What's Changed' section or URL - -## 1/2022 - -Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - -* Steve's [Medley Interlisp: The Interactive Environment](https://interlisp.org/documentation/20211225-interlisp-book-2.pdf) reformated for easier online reading. -* Sponsoring the Software Preservation Network. -* Interlisp.online progress, changes expected -* New User documentation -* California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) confirming exempt status - -## 12/2021 - -* [Interlisp Online](https://online.interlisp.org): Run Medley Interlisp in the cloud with just a browser. No download or install. Lower the barrier to entry. Of course, it's better to install a release on your own machine, but for the casual visitor, this is better. - * Still under development but try it out, report problems (use issue tag 'online'). - * There seem to be problems with Safari on older macs--try Firefox or Chrome. - * a mouse and keyboard are still necessary on tablets. - * For the immersive "Lisp Machine" experience, run "fullscreen". - * HiRes display? Most browsers will let you scale the pixels. -* [InterlispOrg Inc](https://github.com/Interlisp/medley/wiki/InterlispOrg-Inc) has been approved as a 501c3 with the IRS. The simplest way to donate is using the GitHub Sponsor button. - -## 11/2021 - -* [Medley Interlisp: Tools and Utilities](https://interlisp.org/documentation/2021-interlisp-book-3.pdf) (Interlisp book 3) now available for preview; comments and corrections welcome. -* [2021 Annual Report](/project/status/2021medleyannualreport), November 15, 2021. diff --git a/content/en/project/status/_index.md b/content/en/project/status/_index.md index 74033e540..be8cc2aca 100644 --- a/content/en/project/status/_index.md +++ b/content/en/project/status/_index.md @@ -1,15 +1,23 @@ --- -title: Status Reports +title: News and Status Reports type: docs weight: 50 +aliases: + - /hugo/news/ + - /medley/project/news/ + - /project/news --- +# 2023 Annual Report (in preparation) + +Sneak Peek: We are working on our [2023 Medley Interlisp Annual Report](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yL1WeYvgu5JstWyjD3fWl1mDZv8kIr_U3_1onSWvUko/edit?usp=sharing). Still a work in progress -- don't distribute until we announce it ready. + ## Annual Reports The Medley team has produced annual reports documenting their major achievements. -- [2021 Annual Report](/project/status/2021medleyannualreport) - [2022 Annual Report](/project/status/2022medleyannualreport) +- [2021 Annual Report](/project/status/2021medleyannualreport) ## March 2023 Bay Area Lisp Meeting From be5dc32ee87d5f57c30224a3cd6c257100cdfd45 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Larry Masinter Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2023 12:50:29 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 3/7] another take on the project page --- content/en/project/_index.md | 13 ++++++------ content/en/project/reviving.md | 39 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2 files changed, 45 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-) create mode 100644 content/en/project/reviving.md diff --git a/content/en/project/_index.md b/content/en/project/_index.md index f516cba9b..3338e9953 100644 --- a/content/en/project/_index.md +++ b/content/en/project/_index.md @@ -1,5 +1,5 @@ --- -title: The Medley Interlisp Project: Reviving a Groundbreaking System +Title: The Medley Interlisp Project weight: 2 type: docs aliases: @@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ aliases: - /medley/about/ - /medley/other/ --- +# Reviving a Groundbreaking System ## What are we trying to accomplish? @@ -15,15 +16,13 @@ Our aim is to allow Medley to "live again": to be useable enough on modern syste We also hope to provide a platform for revival of systems developed using Interlisp., including 1980's work in hypertext (Notecards), desktop management (Rooms), and object-oriented programming (LOOPS). -## What are our challenges? - -Being compatible with modern systems requires compensating for changes input and output channels. Mouse, cursor, scroll wheels need to function in the expected way. Support for the plethora of different keyboard layouts available today requires rearchitecting some of the lowest levels of stream handling. The replacement of the "XCCS" (Xerox Character Code Standard) with Unicode isn't complete. Today's screens are bigger. CPUs are multi-threading, Big-endian 64-bit character codes. Three-button mouse vs. one button. Subtle bugs because of change of address space. +The lessons from the Interlisp interactive environment is likely more relevant in today's "devops" environment -- managing large networks of independent microservices, with no single serialization of the components quite comprehensible. Development in this model has been called "repl-driven development": you are working in the 'live' environment (or a copy) making changes without a separate, lengthy edit-compile-load-restart. -We also want to restore and present earlier versions of Interlisp, for the student of computer history. +## What are our challenges? -We have done a lot of cleanup and adaptation, to make Medley usable again in the modern world. Among other developments, you can now run Medley Interlisp on many OS and hardware configurations, or in the cloud, using a web browser. +"Reviving" old software requires some judgment of tradeoffs. There are often disagreements. Backward compatibility, fixing what seems to be a bug might cause other problems. For more on the work we're doing, see [Reviving Medley](reviving) and [Status](status). -We have also developed tools for managing the GitHub workflow, to integrate the Interlisp style development with git and GitHub, Docker and other modern components. +We are trying to address this conflict by also making older versions of Interlisp available. There is an emulator for the Xerox 1108 (Dandelion) D-machine that will run the old software unchanged, it is slow and cumbersome; not something you would want to use for day-to-day work. ## Who is involved? diff --git a/content/en/project/reviving.md b/content/en/project/reviving.md new file mode 100644 index 000000000..58dd24fe5 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/en/project/reviving.md @@ -0,0 +1,39 @@ +--- +Title: Reviving Medley +weight: 80 +type: docs +--- +# Choices and Challenges +Instead of starting with an earlier, finished and tested release, we started with a project that was valuable but incomplete: the files for a "Medley 3.5" release, as the latest available to us. Among other things, Medley 3.5 increase in address space -- from 64mb to 256mb. + +Differences between Medley 1.0 and Medley Interlisp. + +* CPU and operating system: + * originally: 16 and 32 bit systems, big endian + * medley 3.5: 32 bit little endian + * now: 64 bit data paths, little endian + +* File systems: + * originally: case insensitive, versioned file system + * now: varied case sensitivity, upper and lower case +* Mouse: + * originally: three button mouse + * now: two, one, or touchpad cursor movement; scroll wheel +* Keyboard: + * Originally: limited number of keyboards; every app did decoding + * now: impossibly many keyboards: users want uniform (and familiar) +* Character encoding: + * originally: XCCS (Xerox Character Code Standard) + * Now: Unicode +* Display + * originally: 768x808 one bit per pixel + * now: larger, color displays +* Available compilers + * Originally: "K&R" book of standard C + * now: gcc, cmake and Posix standards +* Version Management + * Originally: versioned file system based on emulating + * now: relative path names from "pseudo hosts" + + +We have also developed tools for managing the GitHub workflow, to integrate the Interlisp style development with git and GitHub, Docker and other modern components. From c73d6f4492f24ccb667a825f06b62c1881739252 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Larry Masinter Date: Thu, 14 Dec 2023 13:06:20 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 4/7] remove junk --- content/en/history/_index.md | 59 +++--------------------------------- 1 file changed, 5 insertions(+), 54 deletions(-) diff --git a/content/en/history/_index.md b/content/en/history/_index.md index b0e1b7e54..9b88fd9e5 100644 --- a/content/en/history/_index.md +++ b/content/en/history/_index.md @@ -14,64 +14,15 @@ Interlisp evolved from an interactive terminal style programming tool to Interli Development of the system moved from Xerox PARC to a Xerox AI Systems division, to a spin-out company called Envos, to a smaller company called Venue. The system was called Interlisp, Interlisp-D, and various named releases (Koto, Lyric, Medley) until the name "Medley" was used for the whole thing. -### Another short history +## Other PARC systems -The 1970s and 80s saw major advances in computing and Human-Computer interaction. At Xerox PARC there were three IDEs developed with different approaches: Smalltalk, with an object-oriented system; Interlisp, for researchers in AI and exploratory development; Cedar/Mesa, with a strongly typed language. They each had a different model for source code management, development and versioning. In common they shared an infrastructure and vision of computing and distributed systems, with support for Ethernet networking, printing, file servers and network protocols. Each environment had its own Virtual Machine instruction set tuned for the language "all the way down", in a single address space, in a way that opened the systems to customization. +At PARC there were actually three IDEs developed with different approaches: Smalltalk, with an object-oriented system; Interlisp, for researchers in AI and exploratory development; Cedar/Mesa, with a strongly typed language. They each had a different model for source code management, development and versioning. In common they shared an infrastructure and vision of computing and distributed systems, with support for Ethernet networking, printing, file servers and network protocols. Each environment had its own Virtual Machine instruction set tuned for the language "all the way down", in a single address space, in a way that opened the systems to customization. -There were several different [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf): Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak, and others. Each environment had its own microcode to implement its instruction set; once loaded, each would take over the machine -- there was no separate OS. Each had large-screen black and white CRTs for a graphical user interface, mouse and cursor pointer, high quality fonts. +There were several different [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf): Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak, and others. The machines weren't primarily designed for Lisp, although there were some features added. -Xerox marketed the Interlisp-D enviornment primarily to the AI community world wide, starting in 1980, from XEOS to Xerox Artificial Intelligence Systems, then a spin-out company called Envos, and then further development and porting to other systems by a company called Venue, until development tapered off. Along the way, the name changed from Interlisp-D to Medley. +Each software environment had its own microcode (for each machine) to implement its instruction set; once loaded, the software would take over the machine -- there was no separate OS. Each had large-screen black and white CRTs for a graphical user interface, mouse and cursor pointer, high quality fonts. -We started with sources from Venue for what was intended to be Medley 3.5. -The 1970s and 80s saw major advances in computing and Human-Computer interaction. At Xerox PARC there were three IDEs developed with different approaches: Smalltalk, with an object-oriented system; Interlisp, for researchers in AI and exploratory development; Cedar/Mesa, with a strongly typed language. They each had a different model for source code management, development and versioning. In common they shared an infrastructure and vision of computing and distributed systems, with support for Ethernet networking, printing, file servers and network protocols. Each environment had its own Virtual Machine instruction set tuned for the language "all the way down", in a single address space, in a way that opened the systems to customization. - -There were several different [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf): Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak, and others. Each environment had its own microcode to implement its instruction set; once loaded, each would take over the machine -- there was no separate OS. Each had large-screen black and white CRTs for a graphical user interface, mouse and cursor pointer, high quality fonts. - -Xerox marketed the Interlisp-D enviornment primarily to the AI community world wide, starting in 1980, from XEOS to Xerox Artificial Intelligence Systems, then a spin-out company called Envos, and then further development and porting to other systems by a company called Venue, until development tapered off. Along the way, the name changed from Interlisp-D to Medley. - -We started with sources from Venue for what was intended to be Medley 3.5. -The 1970s and 80s saw major advances in computing and Human-Computer interaction. At Xerox PARC there were three IDEs developed with different approaches: Smalltalk, with an object-oriented system; Interlisp, for researchers in AI and exploratory development; Cedar/Mesa, with a strongly typed language. They each had a different model for source code management, development and versioning. In common they shared an infrastructure and vision of computing and distributed systems, with support for Ethernet networking, printing, file servers and network protocols. Each environment had its own Virtual Machine instruction set tuned for the language "all the way down", in a single address space, in a way that opened the systems to customization. - -There were several different [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf): Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak, and others. Each environment had its own microcode to implement its instruction set; once loaded, each would take over the machine -- there was no separate OS. Each had large-screen black and white CRTs for a graphical user interface, mouse and cursor pointer, high quality fonts. - -Xerox marketed the Interlisp-D enviornment primarily to the AI community world wide, starting in 1980, from XEOS to Xerox Artificial Intelligence Systems, then a spin-out company called Envos, and then further development and porting to other systems by a company called Venue, until development tapered off. Along the way, the name changed from Interlisp-D to Medley. - -We started with sources from Venue for what was intended to be Medley 3.5. -The 1970s and 80s saw major advances in computing and Human-Computer interaction. At Xerox PARC there were three IDEs developed with different approaches: Smalltalk, with an object-oriented system; Interlisp, for researchers in AI and exploratory development; Cedar/Mesa, with a strongly typed language. They each had a different model for source code management, development and versioning. In common they shared an infrastructure and vision of computing and distributed systems, with support for Ethernet networking, printing, file servers and network protocols. Each environment had its own Virtual Machine instruction set tuned for the language "all the way down", in a single address space, in a way that opened the systems to customization. - -There were several different [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf): Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak, and others. Each environment had its own microcode to implement its instruction set; once loaded, each would take over the machine -- there was no separate OS. Each had large-screen black and white CRTs for a graphical user interface, mouse and cursor pointer, high quality fonts. - -Xerox marketed the Interlisp-D enviornment primarily to the AI community world wide, starting in 1980, from XEOS to Xerox Artificial Intelligence Systems, then a spin-out company called Envos, and then further development and porting to other systems by a company called Venue, until development tapered off. Along the way, the name changed from Interlisp-D to Medley. - -We started with sources from Venue for what was intended to be Medley 3.5. -The 1970s and 80s saw major advances in computing and Human-Computer interaction. At Xerox PARC there were three IDEs developed with different approaches: Smalltalk, with an object-oriented system; Interlisp, for researchers in AI and exploratory development; Cedar/Mesa, with a strongly typed language. They each had a different model for source code management, development and versioning. In common they shared an infrastructure and vision of computing and distributed systems, with support for Ethernet networking, printing, file servers and network protocols. Each environment had its own Virtual Machine instruction set tuned for the language "all the way down", in a single address space, in a way that opened the systems to customization. - -There were several different [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf): Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak, and others. Each environment had its own microcode to implement its instruction set; once loaded, each would take over the machine -- there was no separate OS. Each had large-screen black and white CRTs for a graphical user interface, mouse and cursor pointer, high quality fonts. - -Xerox marketed the Interlisp-D enviornment primarily to the AI community world wide, starting in 1980, from XEOS to Xerox Artificial Intelligence Systems, then a spin-out company called Envos, and then further development and porting to other systems by a company called Venue, until development tapered off. Along the way, the name changed from Interlisp-D to Medley. - -We started with sources from Venue for what was intended to be Medley 3.5. -The 1970s and 80s saw major advances in computing and Human-Computer interaction. At Xerox PARC there were three IDEs developed with different approaches: Smalltalk, with an object-oriented system; Interlisp, for researchers in AI and exploratory development; Cedar/Mesa, with a strongly typed language. They each had a different model for source code management, development and versioning. In common they shared an infrastructure and vision of computing and distributed systems, with support for Ethernet networking, printing, file servers and network protocols. Each environment had its own Virtual Machine instruction set tuned for the language "all the way down", in a single address space, in a way that opened the systems to customization. - -There were several different [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf): Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak, and others. Each environment had its own microcode to implement its instruction set; once loaded, each would take over the machine -- there was no separate OS. Each had large-screen black and white CRTs for a graphical user interface, mouse and cursor pointer, high quality fonts. - -Xerox marketed the Interlisp-D enviornment primarily to the AI community world wide, starting in 1980, from XEOS to Xerox Artificial Intelligence Systems, then a spin-out company called Envos, and then further development and porting to other systems by a company called Venue, until development tapered off. Along the way, the name changed from Interlisp-D to Medley. - -We started with sources from Venue for what was intended to be Medley 3.5. -The 1970s and 80s saw major advances in computing and Human-Computer interaction. At Xerox PARC there were three IDEs developed with different approaches: Smalltalk, with an object-oriented system; Interlisp, for researchers in AI and exploratory development; Cedar/Mesa, with a strongly typed language. They each had a different model for source code management, development and versioning. In common they shared an infrastructure and vision of computing and distributed systems, with support for Ethernet networking, printing, file servers and network protocols. Each environment had its own Virtual Machine instruction set tuned for the language "all the way down", in a single address space, in a way that opened the systems to customization. - -There were several different [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf): Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak, and others. Each environment had its own microcode to implement its instruction set; once loaded, each would take over the machine -- there was no separate OS. Each had large-screen black and white CRTs for a graphical user interface, mouse and cursor pointer, high quality fonts. - -Xerox marketed the Interlisp-D enviornment primarily to the AI community world wide, starting in 1980, from XEOS to Xerox Artificial Intelligence Systems, then a spin-out company called Envos, and then further development and porting to other systems by a company called Venue, until development tapered off. Along the way, the name changed from Interlisp-D to Medley. - -We started with sources from Venue for what was intended to be Medley 3.5. -The 1970s and 80s saw major advances in computing and Human-Computer interaction. At Xerox PARC there were three IDEs developed with different approaches: Smalltalk, with an object-oriented system; Interlisp, for researchers in AI and exploratory development; Cedar/Mesa, with a strongly typed language. They each had a different model for source code management, development and versioning. In common they shared an infrastructure and vision of computing and distributed systems, with support for Ethernet networking, printing, file servers and network protocols. Each environment had its own Virtual Machine instruction set tuned for the language "all the way down", in a single address space, in a way that opened the systems to customization. - -There were several different [D-machines](http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/parc/Exploring_the_Ethernet_with_Mouse_and_Keyboard_May81.pdf): Dorado, Dolphin, Dandelion, Daybreak, and others. Each environment had its own microcode to implement its instruction set; once loaded, each would take over the machine -- there was no separate OS. Each had large-screen black and white CRTs for a graphical user interface, mouse and cursor pointer, high quality fonts. - -Xerox marketed the Interlisp-D enviornment primarily to the AI community world wide, starting in 1980, from XEOS to Xerox Artificial Intelligence Systems, then a spin-out company called Envos, and then further development and porting to other systems by a company called Venue, until development tapered off. Along the way, the name changed from Interlisp-D to Medley. - -We started with sources from Venue for what was intended to be Medley 3.5. +When sold as a workstation of the Xerox Office Systems Division, the machines had different numbers -- the Xerox 1108 (Dandelion) was the same as the Xerox 8010. The Xerox 1186 (Daybreak) was the same as the Xerox 6085. ### Detailed History From 18cc5e832042f324662c4fa388b87d738ae3a0ef Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Larry Masinter Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2023 10:00:39 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 5/7] update 'reviving' per @stumbo review --- content/en/project/reviving.md | 97 ++++++++++++++++++++++------------ 1 file changed, 64 insertions(+), 33 deletions(-) diff --git a/content/en/project/reviving.md b/content/en/project/reviving.md index 58dd24fe5..4800a2cc1 100644 --- a/content/en/project/reviving.md +++ b/content/en/project/reviving.md @@ -4,36 +4,67 @@ weight: 80 type: docs --- # Choices and Challenges -Instead of starting with an earlier, finished and tested release, we started with a project that was valuable but incomplete: the files for a "Medley 3.5" release, as the latest available to us. Among other things, Medley 3.5 increase in address space -- from 64mb to 256mb. - -Differences between Medley 1.0 and Medley Interlisp. - -* CPU and operating system: - * originally: 16 and 32 bit systems, big endian - * medley 3.5: 32 bit little endian - * now: 64 bit data paths, little endian - -* File systems: - * originally: case insensitive, versioned file system - * now: varied case sensitivity, upper and lower case -* Mouse: - * originally: three button mouse - * now: two, one, or touchpad cursor movement; scroll wheel -* Keyboard: - * Originally: limited number of keyboards; every app did decoding - * now: impossibly many keyboards: users want uniform (and familiar) -* Character encoding: - * originally: XCCS (Xerox Character Code Standard) - * Now: Unicode -* Display - * originally: 768x808 one bit per pixel - * now: larger, color displays -* Available compilers - * Originally: "K&R" book of standard C - * now: gcc, cmake and Posix standards -* Version Management - * Originally: versioned file system based on emulating - * now: relative path names from "pseudo hosts" - - -We have also developed tools for managing the GitHub workflow, to integrate the Interlisp style development with git and GitHub, Docker and other modern components. + +The main work of the Medley Interlisp Project is managed through GitHub. +This outlines some of the areas of work. + +## A Work in Progress + +We started with the most recent working files from Venue sources. This was not a finished and tested release, but rather a work in progress, nearly complete, labeled Medley 3.5. (The last release by Venue was called Medley 2.01.) + +Among other improvements, Medley 3.5 increased the address space by a factor of 16. But the changes to addres space affects some highly optimized code which took advantage of short-cuts. + +## Common Lisp and Interlisp file manager + +While Medley 3.5 has a Common Lisp implementation, it is compatible with the Common Lisp of its time -- the first edition of Common Lisp the Language (aka CLtL1). There are files that purport to implement CLtL2, but they have not yet been merged. + +In addition, the integration of Common Lisp and Interlisp is extensive, there are still some rough edges -- along the way of integrating the two, the result is not quite seamless. + +While Interlisp and Medley implement international character processing and hardcopy through use of 16-bit characters, the character coding system used is XCCS (the Xerox Character Code Standard). + +### CPU and operating system +* originally: 32 bit systems, big endian +* medley 3.5: 32 bit little endian +* now: 64 bit data paths, little endian + +Changing from a 32-bit to 64-bit CPU was addressed carefully by upgrading the code in the emulator from "K&R" C to modern C standard. + +### File systems +* originally: case insensitive, versioned file system. +* now: varied case sensitivity + +More subtlely, the collaboration workflow has changed. The assumption for many at PARC was to have large file servers that everyone in a team would share, develop new versions, and then merge in by copying files to the file server. + +In a Git-based workflow, the version numbers are mainly meaningless. + +### Mouse +* originally: three button mouse +* now: two, one, or touchpad cursor movement; scroll wheel + +Scroll wheel implementation, middle button menu commands are awkward. + +### Keyboard +* Originally: limited number of keyboards; every app did decoding +* now: impossibly many keyboards: users want uniform (and familiar) + +We have yet to gain mastery over the complex way that Medley handles the keyboard. + +### Character encoding +* originally: XCCS (Xerox Character Code Standard) +* Now: Unicode + +### Display +* originally: 768x808 one bit per pixel +* now: larger, color displays + +Color support seems like it might have been a Medley feature that was taken out, for reasons that are unclear. Running on a large 4K display at full-screen isn't possible. We have yet to integrate modern fonts. + +### Available compilers +* Originally: "K&R" book of standard C +* now: gcc, cmake and Posix standards + +### Version Management +* Originally: versioned file system +* now: path names via "pseudo hosts"; GITFNS, structure comparison + + From 01dcac1f45b6ea8b645a300208e41aad30aa269f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Larry Masinter Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2023 10:27:02 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 6/7] extra keystroke removed --- content/en/project/_index.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/content/en/project/_index.md b/content/en/project/_index.md index 3338e9953..d257e4dbf 100644 --- a/content/en/project/_index.md +++ b/content/en/project/_index.md @@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ We are [some of the original developers and users of Interlisp](/project/credits
How do I get involved? -a +
## Why? From 64cccc4b760ada48a35e69d7fc6dda2adcd414b3 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Larry Masinter Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2023 10:29:55 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 7/7] introduced typo, fixed --- content/en/project/reviving.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/content/en/project/reviving.md b/content/en/project/reviving.md index 4800a2cc1..58f2326d6 100644 --- a/content/en/project/reviving.md +++ b/content/en/project/reviving.md @@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ This outlines some of the areas of work. We started with the most recent working files from Venue sources. This was not a finished and tested release, but rather a work in progress, nearly complete, labeled Medley 3.5. (The last release by Venue was called Medley 2.01.) -Among other improvements, Medley 3.5 increased the address space by a factor of 16. But the changes to addres space affects some highly optimized code which took advantage of short-cuts. +Among other improvements, Medley 3.5 increased the address space by a factor of 16. But the changes to the address space affects some highly optimized code which took advantage of short-cuts. ## Common Lisp and Interlisp file manager