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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!wivax!dyer
From: dyer@wivax.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: etymology of peek and poke
Message-ID: <18452@wivax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 19-Jul-83 02:12:02 EDT
Article-I.D.: wivax.18452
Posted: Tue Jul 19 02:12:02 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 19-Jul-83 11:08:46 EDT
Sender: dyer@wivax.UUCP
Organization: Wang Institute, Tyngsboro, Ma.
Lines: 10

The language EL/1 developed at Harvard in the mid-70's contained two
symbols called "peek" and "poke" which were used to determine the value
of several system parameters.  Since the use of EL/1 at Harvard coincides
roughly with the time Bill Gates developed his 8080 BASIC interpreter,
I wondered if anyone could verify that the inspiration came from EL/1
or contribute evidence to the contrary (i.e. earlier uses of peek/poke.)

Steve Dyer
decvax!wivax!dyer
sdyer@bbn-unix