On 05/08/2018, Peter Jeremy <peter(a)rulingia.com> wrote:
The book "A Programming Language" by Kenneth
Iverson included a formal
description of the IBM 7090 in Iverson Notation (now APL). I believe that
is the first formal description of any computer. The success of that led
IBM to include a formal description of the System/360 architecture in the
IBM Systems Journal issue introducing the S/360.
Blaauw & Brooks wrote a massive tome describing all manners of
machines in APL ("Computer Architecture: Concepts and Evolution",
A-W). I am not familiar with it. Is anyone on the list familiar with
it?
I've been told that IBM has since regretted that
decision since it opened
the way for other manufacturers to clone the S/360.
Interesting!
N.