Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!sun!amdcad!ames!elroy!gryphon!cadovax!trwrb!trwspf!dragon
From: dragon@trwspf.TRW.COM (Roger Vossler)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.modula2
Subject: Re: Modula2 Machine
Message-ID: <818@trwspf.TRW.COM>
Date: 28 Sep 88 01:25:28 GMT
References:  <749@proxftl.UUCP> <568@etn-rad.UUCP>
Reply-To: dragon@trwspf.UUCP (Roger Vossler)
Organization: TRW - Data Systems Lab., Redondo Beach, CA
Lines: 50

In article <568@etn-rad.UUCP> markus@etn-rad.UUCP (Markus N. Richardson) writes:
*In article <749@proxftl.UUCP> markd@proxftl.UUCP (Mark Davidson) writes:
*>
*>	What's a DISER machine? 
*
*Simply put:
*The DISER machine was the first (and only?) attempt of commercializing the 
*LILITH Modula machine.

To continue the story:

     After the demise of Diser Corporation, Richard Ohran (the guy that
built the original Lilith at ETHZ) formed Modula Corporation which
proceeded to build and market the Lilith. A number of machines were
sold in wood cabinets (the Lilith woodie), but soon a metal cabinet
version was released. This was followed by the Lilith PC (aka LiPC)
which was a Lilith box w/o the I/O. I/O was handled via an ordinary
PC or Clone. After repeated attempts to obtain further financing,
Modula Corporation is currently on hold (i.e. it's a shell
corporation with assets/liabilities, but no employees). Richard
has built a version of the four-pass Modula-2 compiler (C-21)
which generates T-codes for the Transputer. He has also written a
version of MEDOS-2 (V5.2 or so) that runs on a PC or Clone and
supports a Viking I monitor (Moniterm). The Transputer runs
about five times faster (T-414) than the Lilith. Now, it is
possible to have a Lilith inside of a PC or Clone on two
AT-style boards (one for the Transputer and one for the Monitern
interface). I don't know if either the Modula-2 compiler for
the Transputer or the packaged setup will ever be products, but
if people are interested, they can contact Ohran in Provo, UT
at 801.226.0395.

    At TRW we purchased approximately 23 Liliths of which most
are still in operation (10 woodies, 1 commercial, and 11 LiPCs)
supporting sensor data processing. I agree that the Lilith has
seen better days, but we still find Modula-2 very useful and
continue to do so. I've been a Lilith fan for about six years.

    I still have hopes of putting together an Amiga 2000 with
the Moniterm setup in the Amiga side and a Transputer running all
of that lovely Lilith code in the PC side along with all
of the Amiga goodies. In fact, I would argue that in a number
of ways, the Amiga is a cheap color Lilith. See you on
the BitStream.

-- 
-- Roger Vossler
   TRW, Bldg O2-1395, One Space Park, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
   BIX: rvossler      UseNet: dragon@trwspf.trw.com
   ATT: 213.535.2804          ....!trwrb!trwspf!dragon