first bootstrap loader

[jean-jacques Schwarz]

Hello,

Can someone tell me when and by whom the term 'boostrap' was used for the
initialization of the computer?
many thanks

[Charlie Shub]

In article <bsmvi7$nkh$***@demo2.univ-lyon1.fr> "jean-jacques Schwarz" <***@iuta.univ-lyon1.fr> writes:
=> Hello,
=>
=> Can someone tell me when and by whom the term 'boostrap' was used for the
=> initialization of the computer?
=> many thanks
=> --
=> Jean-Jacques Schwarz

i'm old enough to answer that. The initialize button on many machines
would input one card and then start executing the contents of that
card. As such, one needed to develop a program that would fit on one
card. Normally that program was a small loader that would load in
several cards containing a more featured loader which in turn would
load the actual program to be run. Kinda like pulling oneself up by
ones bootstraps. hence the term.

[jean-jacques Schwarz]

Many thanks for the answer.
My question is somewhat uncomplete : in typing I skipped the 'first time'
So do you know the machine the term was applied for the first time

Best regards,

jjs

Post by Charlie Shub
=> Hello,
=>
=> Can someone tell me when and by whom the term 'boostrap' was used for the
=> initialization of the computer?
=> many thanks
=> --
=> Jean-Jacques Schwarz
i'm old enough to answer that. The initialize button on many machines
would input one card and then start executing the contents of that
card. As such, one needed to develop a program that would fit on one
card. Normally that program was a small loader that would load in
several cards containing a more featured loader which in turn would
load the actual program to be run. Kinda like pulling oneself up by
ones bootstraps. hence the term.
--
/"\ charlie shub
\ / ASCII Ribbon Campaign University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

[Jonathan G Campbell]

Post by Charlie Shub
=> Hello,
=>
=> Can someone tell me when and by whom the term 'boostrap' was used for the
=> initialization of the computer?
=> many thanks
=> --
=> Jean-Jacques Schwarz
i'm old enough to answer that. The initialize button on many machines
would input one card and then start executing the contents of that
card.

But, at least on some machines, the initialise button only caused a
jump to an already resident program, i.e. a few instructions that
could read the input device. On such machines the program had to be
keyed in on the switch console; or, it could be in some sort of ROM.

Cannot answer the original question, though.

Best regards,

Jon C.

[Bjorn van der Meer]

On Sun, 28 Dec 2003 17:16:31 +0100

Post by jean-jacques Schwarz
Hello,
Can someone tell me when and by whom the term 'boostrap' was used for the
initialization of the computer?
many thanks
--
Jean-Jacques Schwarz

Bonsoir Jean,
while I could not find a definitive answer to your question, it seems certain that the term was already in use back when the "bootstrap sequence" still had to be "toggled in". ("Toggle in" = operator throws switches to set memory states).

See for example:
http://www.chemistry.msu.edu/History/CPUHist5.shtml

("Atkinson's 13th Law - You aren't a real computer person until you have toggled in 100 bootstraps."


I doubt that evidence for a "first use" can be found, something like the bug reference (http://www.jamesshuggins.com/h/tek1/first_computer_bug_large.htm) is unlikely.

I suggest hooking up with the real computer archaeologists, like in soc.history.science or alt.folklore.computers.

I assume you know the Münchhausen story behind the term "pulling oneself up on one´s own bootstraps".


Happy new year to France,

Björn van der Meer
Berlin, Germany.

[jean-jacques Schwarz]

I was not able to answer you directly.

Guten Tag Björn,
Many thanks for you answer. When I was young .... I was used to toggle in ..
I learned with PDP 8i.
I just made some research about the term bootstrap and I just discovered
yesterday the Münchhausen story but I don't know the context of the term in
the story.
Thanks for the idea of the two other lists.

Beste Wünsche zum neuen Jahr

Jean-Jacques


"Bjorn van der Meer" <***@chronovault.net> a écrit dans le
message de news:***@chronovault.net...
On Sun, 28 Dec 2003 17:16:31 +0100

Post by jean-jacques Schwarz
Hello,
Can someone tell me when and by whom the term 'boostrap' was used for the
initialization of the computer?
many thanks
--
Jean-Jacques Schwarz

Bonsoir Jean,
while I could not find a definitive answer to your question, it seems
certain that the term was already in use back when the "bootstrap sequence"
still had to be "toggled in". ("Toggle in" = operator throws switches to set
memory states).

See for example:
http://www.chemistry.msu.edu/History/CPUHist5.shtml

("Atkinson's 13th Law - You aren't a real computer person until you have
toggled in 100 bootstraps."


I doubt that evidence for a "first use" can be found, something like the bug
reference (http://www.jamesshuggins.com/h/tek1/first_computer_bug_large.htm)
is unlikely.

I suggest hooking up with the real computer archaeologists, like in
soc.history.science or alt.folklore.computers.

I assume you know the Münchhausen story behind the term "pulling oneself up
on oneŽs own bootstraps".


Happy new year to France,

Björn van der Meer
Berlin, Germany.

[Bjorn van der Meer]

Salute again, Jacques.

Münchhausen is explained at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baron_Munchausen

There is also a link to the Project Gutenberg text there, however the bootstap episode is not in that particular text.

The idea is that the count had fallen into a swamp, and in a stroke of genius managed to get himself out of there by pulling on his own bootstraps (a loop of leather on the top of the boot to facilitate putting the boots on), which is somewhat at odds with physics as we know it.

(Interestingly this only seems to be the case in translations. In the german tradition he pulls himself out on his own hair, giving birth to the german proverb: "Sich an den eigenen Haaren aus dem Dreck ziehen".)

The parallel to the booting process is that you need to have a somewhat running system to load the program you need to be able to load the program needed to be able to load the program needed to load the program...etc.

Let me know if you find evidence for a first use of the term in a computing environment.

Regards, Björn.
Berlin, Germany

Post by jean-jacques Schwarz
I was not able to answer you directly.
Guten Tag Björn,
Many thanks for you answer. When I was young .... I was used to toggle in ..
I learned with PDP 8i.
I just made some research about the term bootstrap and I just discovered
yesterday the Münchhausen story but I don't know the context of the term in
the story.
Thanks for the idea of the two other lists.
Beste Wünsche zum neuen Jahr
Jean-Jacques
On Sun, 28 Dec 2003 17:16:31 +0100

Post by jean-jacques Schwarz
Hello,
Can someone tell me when and by whom the term 'boostrap' was used for the
initialization of the computer?
many thanks
--
Jean-Jacques Schwarz

Bonsoir Jean,
while I could not find a definitive answer to your question, it seems
certain that the term was already in use back when the "bootstrap sequence"
still had to be "toggled in". ("Toggle in" = operator throws switches to set
memory states).
http://www.chemistry.msu.edu/History/CPUHist5.shtml
("Atkinson's 13th Law - You aren't a real computer person until you have
toggled in 100 bootstraps."
I doubt that evidence for a "first use" can be found, something like the bug
reference (http://www.jamesshuggins.com/h/tek1/first_computer_bug_large.htm)
is unlikely.
I suggest hooking up with the real computer archaeologists, like in
soc.history.science or alt.folklore.computers.
I assume you know the Münchhausen story behind the term "pulling oneself up
on one´s own bootstraps".
Happy new year to France,
Björn van der Meer
Berlin, Germany.