FPGA VAX update, now DIY TTL computers

[Allison]

>
>Subject: Re: FPGA VAX update, now DIY TTL computers
>   From: woodelf <bfranchuk at jetnet.ab.ca>
>   Date: Wed, 09 Nov 2005 09:12:28 -0700
>     To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
>
>Allison wrote:
>
>>After transistors the second evolution in computers was packaging.
>>
>>  
>>
>No, I think Automatic wire wrapping was the big difference untill the 70's.
>Then it was the dip packaging of the transistors in the form of SSI and
>MSI.

They were later and significant however, Go back and study TX2 (Lincoln labs
Clark, Olsen, Best and Mitchell ca1956).  Their inovation was packaging 
into modules of standardized circuit (chips would shrink this) modules and 
then integrating them into modular subsystems (ALU, memory and IO).  There
were also logical enhancements on the archetecture level as well.

The lessons of the TX2 were applied directly to DEC logic modules that 
would evolve to FlipChips.

Automatic wire wraping and IC were the next and nearly concurrent waves
and served to greatly lower cost.  By then we were well into the 60s.

Allison