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[AERA. Dream machines and computing practices at the Mathematical Center]
Gerard Alberts1, Huub T De Beer
1Instituut voor Informatica, Universiteit van Amsterdam. G.Alberts@uva.nl
Studium (Rotterdam, Netherlands)
|May 17, 2012
Summary
The Mathematical Center pioneered early software development, focusing on "superprograms" like compilers and systems. This research laid the groundwork for modern software engineering practices.
Area of Science:
- Computer Science
- History of Computing
- Software Engineering
Context:
- The Mathematical Center in Amsterdam, established in 1946, aimed to serve society through computing.
- Under Aad van Wijngaarden, the department balanced computing services with scientific research and computer construction.
- Early ambitions for large automatic computers like AERA and ARRA faced significant development challenges.
Purpose:
- To explore the foundational contributions of the Mathematical Center to the field of software development.
- To highlight the transition from hardware-centric goals to advanced programming concepts.
- To document the emergence of 'superprograms' and their role in early software engineering.
Summary:
- Despite challenges with hardware realization (e.g., ARRA, ARMAC), the Mathematical Center excelled in programming.
- Edsger Dijkstra emphasized programmer responsibilities, leading to the development of 'superprograms' (autocoding systems).
- Key examples include Dekker's matrix complex, Dijkstra's interrupt system, and Dijkstra and Zonneveld's ALGOL compiler.
Impact:
- The development of the ALGOL compiler in 1960 provided the Mathematical Center with a significant lead in early software development.
- These 'superprograms' represent the historical origins of modern software, moving beyond simple subroutine libraries.
- The focus on programming and systems laid crucial groundwork for the discipline of software engineering.
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