Node:retrocomputing, Next:return from the
dead, Previous:RETI, Up:= R =
retrocomputing /ret'-roh-k*m-pyoo'ting/ n.
Refers to emulations of way-behind-the-state-of-the-art
hardware or software, or implementations of
never-was-state-of-the-art; esp. if such implementations are
elaborate practical jokes and/or parodies, written mostly for
hack value, of more `serious'
designs. Perhaps the most widely distributed retrocomputing
utility was the pnch(6) or bcd(6)
program on V7 and other early Unix versions, which would accept
up to 80 characters of text argument and display the
corresponding pattern in punched
card code. Other well-known retrocomputing hacks have
included the programming language INTERCAL, a JCL-emulating shell for Unix, the
card-punch-emulating editor named 029, and various elaborate
PDP-11 hardware emulators and RT-11 OS emulators written just to
keep an old, sourceless Zork binary
running.
A tasty selection of retrocomputing programs are made
available at the Retrocomputing Museum, http://www.ccil.org/retro.
Node:return from the
dead, Next:RFC, Previous:retrocomputing, Up:= R =
return from the dead v.
To regain access to the net after a long absence. Compare
person of no
account.