← Back to context

Comment by Taniwha

25 days ago

Burroughs used an Algol60 derivative (not '68)

ESPOL initially, which evolved into NEWP.

  • ESPOL was (is?) simply a version of the standard Algol compiler that let you do 'system' sorts of things.

    The Burroughs large systems architecture didn't really protect you from yourself, system security/integrity depended on only letting code from vetted compilers run (only a compiler could make a code file, and only a privileged person could make a program a compiler) - so the Algol 60 compiler made code that was safe, Espol could make code that wasn't, could do things a normal user couldn't - you kept the espol compiler somewhere safe away from the students ....

    (there was a well known hole in this whole thing involving mag tapes)

    • As mentioned it evolved into NEWP, and you can get all the manuals from Unisys, as they keep selling it.

      Given its architecture, it is sold for batch processing systems where security is paramount.

      Yes, ESPOL and NEWP, being one of the first systems languages with UNSAFE code blocks, a binary that is compiled having unsafe is tainted and requires administrator configuration before being allowed to execute by the system.

      One cannot just compile such code and execute it right away.