New glossary entries and Jargon File reference #292
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Add to the glossary the entries Break package, Briefing Blurb, Display, and Package. Link to the Jargon File. Signed-off-by: Paolo Amoroso <[email protected]>
| : The Interlisp subsystem that comprises the debugger (also known as break window) and other debugging facilities. Named after the `BREAK` function and breakpoints. | ||
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| Briefing Blurb | ||
| : Any one of the technical reports in a series that introduced Xerox PARC newcomers to the computing and network environment at the Computer Science Laboratory. Written in an upbeat style, their titles followed a pattern that included the expression "Briefing Blurb" such as *The Alto-Dolphin-Dorado Briefing Blurb: Exploring the Ethernet with Mouse and Keyboard* and *The Briefing Blurb: Exploring the Ethernet with Mouse and Keyboard*. |
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The PARC use of "briefing blurb" was indeed brief (a "blurb") and meant to "brief" a newcomer to the parc milieu, but it wasn't a "technical report" (which is something you might make at the end of a project or significant milestone). It contained folklore, use patterns, usage notes, etc. of various computing environments. Typically the idea was to assign a newcomer to the group to update the group's briefing blurb. This insured that it was frequently updated and also the task of updating was also educational.
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What about "Any one of the internal documents in a series that introduced Xerox PARC newcomers..."?
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"One of the several documents that introduced Xerox PARC newcomers to the computing and network environment of the Computer Science Laboratory....."
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I'll go with this.
| ## Vocabulary and relationships | ||
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| AltoLisp | ||
| : An (unsuccessful) attempt to build a Lisp-based OS for running Interlisp on an Alto. |
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I'm not sure "(unsuccessful)" captures the status of AltoLisp. It was an initial foray into building a microcoded Lisp implementation following Peter Deutch's paper on compact Lisp programs. AltoLisp was the basis for DoradoLisp with new microcode. AltoLisp failed because the "working set" for a "demand paged" Lisp system was bigger than the amount of memory available on the Alto.
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AltoLisp is actually a preexisting entry not in this PR but I can of course change it to "An attempt to build a microcoded Lisp-based OS for running Interlisp on an Alto", "An experimental microcoded implementation of a Lisp-based OS for running Interlisp on an Alto", or something else.
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"An experimental microcoded implementation of Interlisp on an Alto personal computer."
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I'll go with your suggestion too.
| Fuji Xerox. Subsequently ported to little-endian processors and other operating systems. | ||
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| Package | ||
| : An Interlisp subsystem such as the break package (q.v.) or the window package (window system). Not to be confused with Common Lisp packages or packaged applications. |
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How about leading with the ambiguity:
The term Package has several different meanings depending on the context:
- Informally, a collection of utilities or submodule in Interlisp (the "break package" and the "file package")
- A feature of Commmon Lisp symbol support; the package system allows the combining of Interlisp symbols (written with "IL:" prefix) and Common Lisp symbols (written with a "lisp:" prefix).
There is no 'window package' so pick another example.
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Okay thanks I'll pick your version.
I heard Richard Burton mention the window package in a recent meeting and assumed the expression was more widely used.
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The IRM mentions:
- file package
- "the WHEREIS library package"
- '"library" packages'
- record package
- DWIM package
- network packages
etc.
Signed-off-by: Paolo Amoroso <[email protected]>
* Add glossary entries, link Jargon File Add to the glossary the entries Break package, Briefing Blurb, Display, and Package. Link to the Jargon File. Signed-off-by: Paolo Amoroso <[email protected]> * Revise entries AltoLisp, Briefing Blurb, Package Signed-off-by: Paolo Amoroso <[email protected]> --------- Signed-off-by: Paolo Amoroso <[email protected]>
* Add glossary entries, link Jargon File Add to the glossary the entries Break package, Briefing Blurb, Display, and Package. Link to the Jargon File. Signed-off-by: Paolo Amoroso <[email protected]> * Revise entries AltoLisp, Briefing Blurb, Package Signed-off-by: Paolo Amoroso <[email protected]> --------- Signed-off-by: Paolo Amoroso <[email protected]>
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As discussed in the August 13, 2025 external meeting this PR adds some new entries to the Glossary page: Break package, Briefing Blurb, Display, and Package. It also links to the Jargon File.