PDP-1

The PDP-1, installed in 1961, was the first effective mini-computer at Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory. It was originally intended to support the
input/output functions: card-to-tape, tape-to-printer, and tape-to-film. The
PDP-1's ability to handle I/O freed up the large systems to run major codes.



A more important purpose of the PDP-1 was as a test machine; code could be tried
there before it was transferred to the large machines. Computation staff called
the PDP-1 their "Romper Room" because "all of us were very much learners and
idea try-outers. Here, we could play around with all sorts of things that might
be useful on the larger 'Physics Computers,' and not be badgered by others
needing to use the computer." Feedback on the PDP-1 was immediate since the
programmer could sit at the console to write and correct programs.



Cecilia Larsen is in the center; Bob Kuhn at the right. The man on the left is
unidentified.