Book Review: The ICL 2900 Series

The second part of the book deals with software. After a brief chapter explaining what programming is all about, successive chapters compare and contrast three high-level languages ALGOL, FORTRAN and COBOL. While no attempt is made to teach programming, sufficient detail and illustrative examples are given to distinguish common and disparate features of the illustrative languages. A few valuable pages deal with the conversational languages, BASIC and APL. Then follows a discussion of operating systems with particular reference to the ICL GEORGE 3 and GEORGE 4 systems, Macros, remote access and the MOP facility. The book concludes with a chapter devoted to software packages illustrated with examples such as PERT. This book is of value to those who need to have a good general knowledge of computer applications rather than a detailed specialist knowledge of hardware design techniques. Potential readers range from students commencing a study of computer science orientated towards commercial data processing to the industrial business manager for whom computers have suddenly become a possibility. For years the company has steadfastly kept such machines at arms-length. However, a wind-of-change blows at last, and the new experience threatens to be painful. For such a person this book has much to ofTer. Its modest price makes possible wide distribution within the company. To such readership and others the book may be recommended. M. G. HARTLEY, Digital Process Group, Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, U.M.I.S.T.