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From: lwe3207@acf4.UUCP (Lars Warren Ericson)
Newsgroups: net.arch
Subject: Re: Cosmic Cube and Transputers.
Message-ID: <290007@acf4.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 21-Mar-85 23:20:00 EST
Article-I.D.: acf4.290007
Posted: Thu Mar 21 23:20:00 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 26-Mar-85 04:59:46 EST
References: <825@ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA>
Organization: New York University
Lines: 55

[]

In defense of INMOS, one could well imagine multiplexing each of their
1.8 MBytes/sec  channels to get an 8 port machine.  One can also tie
ports in as memory devices, just like in PDP-11's.

It is a new processor, and as usual with new processors, it takes a while
for them to get the bugs out.  I believe they are prepared to sell emulation
boards for evaluation, and they do have the Occam Programming System for
the VAX.  I am using this system at NYU.

Occam *is* a new language: it is CSP, implemented.  It is quite different,
and quite simple.  Of course, that means that in the next version, new
features will be added.  But there are very few languages that let you
set down, and in a few lines, without extensive declaration of message
structures, tasks, modules, 10-clause ACCEPT statements, etc., do concurrent
programming.

The following is a summary of my last conversation with the Tech/Sales Reps
(I am not an employee of INMOS: I just like their stuff & find them helpful):

-- Lars Ericson, NYU CS Dept.
-- ...!cmcl2!csd1!ericson
-- ericson@nyu

SOFTWARE

	Proto-Occam, $100 demo kit.  We bought it.

	Occam Programming System, editor&compiler, $100.  We bought it.
		Version II, coming in a month, with multi-dimensional arrays,
		8,16,32-bit integers, IEEE floating point, strong typing with
		explicit coercions, separate compilation, and the ability
		to "vectorize" procedures and data in a type-unsafe way
		so that they can be shipped down channels.  Some bugs in
		parameter passing and vector referencing in the current system.

	Occam Porta-Kit.  $100.  They give you the compiler up to the
		intermediate-code level; you supply the rest.  Minimal
		license, doesn't require signing: you mail the whole thing
		back if you can't abide by it.

HARDWARE

	Emulation board.  1 Meg memory, $2000.  Somewhere around now.

	Chip.  84 pins, $500.  "Second half".  Previous estimate (1 month
		ago) "3rd quarter".  4 data channels, 1 memory channel,
		both run about 1.8 mbyte/sec, 4k static ram on board.
		Data sheet available.
	
CONTACTS

	Sales Rep, Susan Woster, (303) 630-4660.
	Tech Rep (for compiler bugs, etc.), Pete Wilson, (303) 630-4256.