[LispM] Introduction

[Earl DuCaine]

Lispmiacs! Thought I would go ahead and introduce myself to the list
since I've been active recently hacking on the ld.


Progress so far:

- Compiled emulator

- Lambda-Delta running with a basic site restored

- Created a custom site and compiled, loaded and run various lispm systems.

- TCP/IP working.  As you would expect using a modern ftp client
   against an alpha version, 30 year old FTP server over an emulated
   network, interaction is a bit jankety.  But I've managed to log in
   and retrieve a file from the Lispm using ftp from the host.

- Compiled the microcode.

- Fixed my first bug!

   lama:l.ulambda;uc-lambda-array.lisp has a stray new-line character
   at the top.  The ucode compiler defaults numbers to base 10, but the
   mode-line setting indicate the file should be compiled using base 8.
   Because the mode-line was not the first line in the file the base 8
   specification was ignored and building the Lambda microcode failed.

Next goal I've set for myself is building a full distribution
release. Currently working a fork of the ld project here:
https://github.com/earl-ducaine/ld

My apologies to the authors of ld: my hacking has been a dumping
ground for various ideas with no thought of being able to reintegrate
them back into the main branch.  Very rude of me.

Misc. Notes

- All work has been done under relatively recent Ubuntu.

- SDL2 ignores your local xkb (X11 keyboard mapping.  Very
   inconvenient if you've using a Dvorak keyboard.  SDL1 works just
   fine however.

- Lispm actually has a Devorak keyboard mode but it's not a first class
   keyboard mapping.

- TUN/TAP was difficult for me to set up. (my own ignorance) Still
   haven't figured out a way to run it conveniently without resorting
   to runing the emulator under root permissions.

- the PDP10/ITS project is highly active and has a very sophisticated
   setup script using 'expects' would be an interesting exercise to ld
   on a network with ITS, also to use some their build machinery to get
   new users up and running.

- It should be possible to add printing capabilities since ld has an
   HP laserjet driver and its output could be redirected to the
   GhostScript PCL tool.

- Kermit might be a more forgiving client than ftp/telnet for
   interacting with ld over TCP/IP.

- Wireshark (packet sniffer) was invaluable for me finally getting
   networking stuff working.

- Appart from the software, the LMI tapes are fascinating.  The memos
   and emails in particular scattered here and there on the backup
   tapes capture a snapshot of the doomed company (LMI/Gigamos) at the
   time of its dissolution in winter of 1988. (apparently)

   The technical accomplishments of a such a minuscule development team
   stagger the imagination.  The fact that they very nearly pulled it
   off (survived to the next round by releasing the falcon processor
   powered k-machine) should be given a detailed, researched narrative
   treatment in a full-length book.

Unfortunately, my extreme dilettantism, makes it unlikely that I'll
work on the system long enough to make any real contribution to the
project.  But, while it holds my interest, hopefully I can help others
who are also playing around with the software.

Regards....