Announcing the Open SIMH project
SIMH is a framework and family of computer simulators, initiated by Bob
Supnik and continued with contributions (large and small) from many others,
with the primary goal of enabling the preservation of knowledge contained
in, and providing the ability to execute/experience, old/historic software
via simulation of the hardware on which it ran. This goal has been
successfully achieved and has for these years created a diverse community
of users and developers.
This has mapped to some core operational principles:
First, preserve the ability to run old/historically significant software.
This means functionally accurate, sometimes bug-compatible, but not
cycle-accurate, simulation.
Second, make it reasonably easy to add new simulators for other hardware
while leveraging common functions between the simulators.
Third, exploit the software nature of simulation and make SIMH convenient
for debugging a simulated system, by adding non-historical features to the
environment.
Fourth, make it convenient for users to explore old system environments,
with as close to historical interfaces, by mapping them to new features
that modern host operating systems provide.
Fifth, be inclusive of people and new technology. It's serious work, but it
should be fun.
Previously, we unfortunately never spent the time to codify how we would
deliver on these concepts. Rather, we have relied on an informal use of
traditional free and open-source principles.
Recently a situation has arisen that compromises some of these principles
and thus the entire status of the project, creating consternation among
many users and contributors.
For this reason, a number of us have stepped up to create a new
organizational structure, which we call "The Open SIMH Project", to be the
keeper and provide formal governance for the SIMH ecosystem going forward.
While details of the structure and how it operates are likely to be refined
over time, what will not change is our commitment to maintaining SIMH as a
free and open-source project, licensed under an MIT-style license as shown
on the "simh" repository page.
It is our desire that all of the past users and contributors will come to
recognize that the new organizational structure is in the best interests of
the community at large and that they will join us in it. However, this
iproject as defined, is where we intend to contribute our expertise and
time going forward. At this point, we have in place the following,
although we foresee other resources being added in the future as we
identify the need and execute against them:
A Github "organization" for the project at https://github.com/open-simh
A Git repository for the simulators themselves at
https://github.com/open-simh/simh
The license for the SIMH simulator code base, found in LICENSE.txt in the
top level of the "simh" repository.
The "SIMH related tools" in https://github.com/open-simh/simtools. This is
also licensed under MIT style or BSD style open source licenses (which are
comparable apart from some minor wording differences).
A "SIMH Steering Group" -- project maintainers and guides.
The conventional git style process is used for code contributions, via pull
request to the project repository. The Steering Group members have approval
authority; this list is likely to change and grow over time.
By formalizing the underlying structure, our operational principles and
guidance can best benefit the community. These are being developed and
formalized, with a plan to publish them soon.
We have used our best judgment in setting up this structure but are open to
discussion and consideration of other ideas, and to making improvements.
Many of us have been part of different projects and understand that past
mistakes are real. We have tried to learn from these experiences and apply
the collected wisdom appropriately. We desire to hear from the community as
we update and refine the operating structure for the Open SIMH project.
We hope for your patience and look forward to your support as we work to
refine the organization and be able to provide this wonderful resource for
anyone to use as we continue to evolve the technology provided by the SIMH
system.
The SIMH Steering Group
Clem Cole
Richard Cornwell
Paul Koning
Timothe Litt
Seth Morabito
Bob Supnik
ᐧ
ᐧ
ᐧ
Hi all, I think it's time to move the (no longer) SIMH discussion over to
the COFF mailing list. The S/N ratio is dropping and we are straying too
far away from the Unix side of things.
Many thanks!
Warren
> https://www.tuhs.org/Archive/Documentation/Manuals/Unix_4.0/Volume_1/C.1.2_…
Since PDF didn't exist in 1981, the document is either a scan or the
result of a recent *roff run on ancient source. If it was made from
source, it's an impressive testimonial to the longevity and stability
of troff. Most probably it's a scan, in which case we owe many thanks
to the public-spirited person who digitized this trove. Was it you,
Arnold?
Doug
On Jun 3, 2022, at 4:48 PM, Larry McVoy <lm(a)mcvoy.com> wrote:
> Um, so there were 3: 386, Net and Free. That's already 2 too many.
My recollection matches what Warner is saying. NetBSD &
FreeBSD got going *because* 386BSD was effectively frozen. It
wasn't dead dead but patches were not being upstreamed (as we
say now), and so on. I do agree with you that even two variants
were 1 too many. But even one would probably not have mattered
as the AT&T lawsuit was a huge cloud on *BSD's popularity. As
well as there were other factors. Linus and Linux had a much
better story, its development was more nimble, with many younger
and much more enthusiastic developers/users etc.
Not that anyone really cares at this point except some graybeards!
The Open SIMH project sounds great!
I came across a website that discusses reviving an old binary for Lotus 1-2-3 for SysV Unix (386 COFF), on the way to making it run on Linux:
https://lock.cmpxchg8b.com/linux123.html
The audience here may enjoy the read, and maybe it is of use when reviving other old application software for 1980’s and 1990’s Unix.
The key part I think is this:
Quote:
"Yikes - it’s an original unstripped object file from 1-2-3. There are nearly 20,000 symbols including private symbols and debug information.
Why would Lotus ship this? It’s so big it must have required them to phyiscally ship an extra disk to every customer? Could it have been a mistake, accidentally left on the final release image?
I had so many questions, but I’m not old enough to have any experience with SysV, so I asked the greybeards on alt.folklore.computers if they had seen this before and why this might have happened.
The answer was that this is probably deliberate - dlopen() was not widely available on UNIX in the early 90s, so there was no easy way to load native plugins or extensions. To solve this, vendors would ship a bunch of partially linked object files with a script to relink them with your extensions – Clever!"
The party also has a vintage AUTOMOBILE tester
If anyone knows of a car collector with a passion for such things
interested in a display piece
Or if you still have the first car you ever bought sitting in the garage
Link to posting attached.
https://cnj.craigslist.org/zip/d/hightstown-for-scrap-vintage-eico-888/7489…
I am in direct contact with the party offering these items.
They are all coming out of basement storage
On Sun, May 29, 2022, 8:53 AM Kenneth Goodwin <kennethgoodwin56(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
> No worries.
>
> On Sun, May 29, 2022, 12:04 AM John Sambrook <john(a)common-sense.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi Kenneth -
>>
>> Thank you for the pics.
>>
>> The tube tester appears to be just the meter from a whole tester.
>> Usually, a tube tester is about the size of a small suitcase and has a
>> number of different sockets on its front panel for testing different types
>> of tubes.
>>
>> One of the meters seems worthwhile, but at this time, I am going to
>> decline and hope that at least some of the gear can be salvaged.
>>
>> Thank you for the consideration.
>>
>> John
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On May 28, 2022, at 7:18 PM, Kenneth Goodwin <kennethgoodwin56(a)gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>> One thing
>>
>> Sort of looks like the tube checker might be missing a whole lot of the
>> rest of it.
>> Like an entire cabinet of stuff
>>
>> See photos
>>
>> On Sat, May 28, 2022, 10:11 PM Kenneth Goodwin <
>> kennethgoodwin56(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Everyone feel free to inquire around.
>>> If it all goes to one private party. Then at least they will know who to
>>> passing along to.
>>>
>>> On Sat, May 28, 2022, 7:45 PM Clem Cole <clemc(a)ccc.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> What about the rescue mailing list?
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, May 28, 2022 at 7:31 PM Ed Cashin <ecashin(a)noserose.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> If you don't get a response here, I wouldn't mind asking on the
>>>>> Heinbach subreddit. Just let me know.
>>>>>
>>>>> Heinbach is a musician who creates live and recorded music using lab
>>>>> equipment. He has a large following of inspired creators who would
>>>>> probably love to use this equipment.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sat, May 28, 2022 at 6:09 PM Kenneth Goodwin <
>>>>> kennethgoodwin56(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Details
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 1) Knight Allied Radio volt meter 446-06235
>>>>>> 2) Precision Apparatus series 85 volt meter
>>>>>> 3) Weston Model 676 Tube checker
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Useful as display pieces
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Presumed to all be functional.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sat, May 28, 2022, 6:06 PM Kenneth Goodwin <
>>>>>> kennethgoodwin56(a)gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I have a party in Hightstown NJ
>>>>>>> Looking to donate them.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Will follow up with specs.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> They already contacted the radio museum in Wall NJ
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I told them to try VCF since they should be a separate organization.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Ed Cashin <ecashin(a)noserose.net>
>>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Sent from a handheld expect more typos than usual
>>>>
>>>
Hi,
I have noticed, that 2.11BSD is in all cases where I looked set
to "fast boot", which AFAIK means no fsck of at least /. I found
nobody talking about this or providing information about how to
change it to "slow boot" with a proper check, which is now normal.
Is there a reason why it is not possible to deactivate fast boot?
Or is it just that nobody bothered to do it?
Thanks
Matthias
--
When You Find Out Your Normal Daily Lifestyle Is Called Quarantine
>> If you’re a *current* member of these societies then you should have good access to journal content.
>I believe this is true for ACM, but for IEEE not so much. You have to pay for a digital library membership _in addition to_ your standard membership
ACM is the same. At $99/year membership is a bargain by ordinary
professional society standards. But they charge an additional $99 for
access to 21st-century Digital Library.content.
Doug