After CERN's 50th anniversary in 2004, this year there is another (admittedly smaller) anniversary: the first CERN Computer Newsletter (CNL) was circulated in 1966. As CNL celebrates its 40th year, we will take a look back at some of the highlights - and historical curiosities - of the early years of computing at CERN, seen through its pages. You will find a brief look at previous issues of CNL here; for an extended retrospection read the January-March 2006 issue of CNL, available online at www.cerncourier.com.
Why CNL?
"As computing becomes a more and more widespread and complex activity in the laboratory, the need will increase for a means to have a wider general circulation of background information about different aspects of computing activities than is possible with the present system of Computer Notices." (February 1966, from the introduction to the first issue by G R Macleod, the leader of the Data Handling division from 1964 to 1975)
CERN's first computer expires
"The Ferranti Mercury, installed at CERN in 1957, has now been dismantled […] The computer was the first to be installed at CERN and remained as the only machine until the arrival of the IBM 709 in 1961." (April 1966)
The end of Fortran?
"FORTRAN: FORmula TRANslating. The most commonly used program language exists in many versions e.g. CERN Fortran. ALGOL: from Algorithm. A more advanced language now available on many computers but rarely efficient for production work. PL1: The new programming language specified by the IBM users' organization (SHARE) and IBM to supplant Fortran." (April 1966)
Author:
Compiled by Hannelore Hämmerle and Nicole Crémel