The Case for 9-bit Bytes: A Historical Perspective on Computing Standards
By
luu
Pure flour-power. Hearty enough to carry you through lunch.
Summary
The article discusses the historical use of 9-bit bytes in 70s computing systems like the PDP-10 and contrasts it with the modern standard of 8-bit bytes, largely influenced by the System/360. It argues that 9-bit bytes could have had advantages, particularly in contexts like IPv4 addressing, and reflects on the historical coincidences that shaped current standards.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledA number of 70s computing systems had nine-bit bytes, most prominently the PDP-10, but today all systems use 8-bit bytes and that now seems natural.
As a power of two, eight is definitely nicer. But I think a series of historical coincidences would actually go our way with 9-bit bytes.
IPv4 had 32-bit addresses, so about 4 billion total.
You might also wanna read
The Computer Hobby Movement in Canada: How Hobbyists Brought Personal Computing into Canadian Homes (1970s-1980s)
The article chronicles the computer hobby movement in Canada during the mid-1970s to mid-1980s, highlighting how hobbyists played a crucial
Dijkstra's 1981 Letter Critiquing the APL Programming Language
This article presents a transcribed letter from computer scientist Edsger W. Dijkstra about the APL programming language, written in 1981. T
The Pre-VisiCalc Spreadsheet: Bell Canada's 1969 Budget System Innovation
The article reveals that VisiCalc, commonly considered the first spreadsheet, was actually preceded by an earlier spreadsheet system develop
The History and Mechanics of Slide Rules: From Ancient Calculation to Modern Computing
This comprehensive article explores the history, mechanics, and significance of slide rules as computational tools. It traces the evolution
amenzwa.github.io·6mo ago
The Origins of Backpropagation in Neural Networks
The article explores the origins of backpropagation (BP), a foundational technique in neural networks and deep learning. It credits the mode
The BBC Micro: The Retro Computer That Paved the Way for Modern ARM Chips
The article discusses the BBC Micro, a retro computer from the 1980s, highlighting its significance as the precursor to modern ARM-based chi
retrogamecoders.com·9mo ago