Talk:TX-2

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Cache memory using magnetic films[edit]

In an article comparing the FX-1 to the TX-2, a description of cache memory appears:

FX-1 -- Lincoln Laboratory (1961) Also a part of TX-2 is a small fast memory using thin magnetic films, the first such memory to be installed in a computer. -- Jamplevia (talk) 19:51, 21 February 2022 (UTC)[reply]

The TX-2 used different technologies for different parts of its memory. For example the S-memory was core memory while the T-memory was based on transistors (both were part of a linearly addressable RAM as we'd describe things today). Neither of those was cache and no cache was mentioned in the comprehensive TX-2 Technical Manual (which dates from 1961-1963). The TX-2 was an experimental machine, The TX-2 was changed quite often, so it's possible the memory described in the ONR Digital Computer Newsletter was in fact cache as we'd understand it today, but fitted later in the lifetime of the machine. JamesYoungman (talk) 18:10, 6 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Compiler[edit]

In their edit of 2019-09-04T00:14:33, 888 Manny added the text "The compiler was developed Lawrence Roberts..." but it is not clear from the text (which is current now) what compiler is being described. There is a BCPL compiler from 1969, but Roberts' work was much earlier (1963). If he did develop a compiler, this work would be important even if only because of its early date in the development of TX-2 software.

In any case, this part of the text of the article could be clearer. JamesYoungman (talk) 18:21, 6 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]