Premium
Talk—an interactive system for a small computer
Author(s) -
Kingslake R.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
software: practice and experience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1097-024X
pISSN - 0038-0644
DOI - 10.1002/spe.4380010408
Subject(s) - computer science , executable , desk , macro , programming language , mode (computer interface) , syntax , calculator , computer file , operating system , artificial intelligence
TALK is an interactive file creation and editing system implemented on a very small computer. It provides facilities for FORTRAN syntax checking and an interactive ‘desk‐calculator’. Major computing tasks are sent over a high speed link to CDC 6600/6400 computers A number of teleprinters can be controlled by TALK in the usual way, but also the card reader/line printer pair may be used as a terminal. This is useful for creating or printing large files When a user has logged in he can work in one of several modes. These include INPUT, EDIT and CALCULATE modes. It is possible to nest modes, for example, by entering CALCULATE mode while in INPUT mode without losing one's place in the input file An unusual feature of TALK is the ‘inclusion’ facility. This enables a user to specify previously filed text to be included within another file, either as the file is being created or dynamically whenever the file is used. It also gives users the ability to build up macros of commonly used commands. Many system commands are in fact macros with only simple primitives provided as executable code.