Batch processing

Computerized batch processing, since the 1964 introduction of the IBM System/360, has primarily referred to the scripted running of one or more programs, as directed by Job Control Language, with no human interaction other than, if JCL-requested, the mounting of one or more pre-determined input and/or output computer tapes. Computerized batch processing, since the 1964 introduction of the IBM System/360, has primarily referred to the scripted running of one or more programs, as directed by Job Control Language, with no human interaction other than, if JCL-requested, the mounting of one or more pre-determined input and/or output computer tapes. The computer's operating system, which pre-scans and deciphers the JCL, optimizes the sequencing of this and other jobs to best make use of the system. Much of this is done overnight, in the hours called the 'Batch Window.' The term 'batch processing' originates in the traditional classification of methods of production as job production (one-off production), batch production (production of a 'batch' of multiple items at once, one stage at a time), and flow production (mass production, all stages in process at once). Prior to 1964, 'operating systems' were often called MONITORS, and typically could not run more than one program at a time. A series of programs, including Fortran Monitor System, SOS (Share Operating System)and finally IBSYS were the state of the art for IBM's 7090/7094/7040/7044 systems; The first 7090s were delivered Nov. 1959. From the late 1960s onwards, interactive computing such as via text-based computer terminal interfaces (as in Unix shells or read-eval-print loops), and later graphical user interfaces became common. Non-interactive computation, both one-off jobs such as compilation, and processing of multiple items in batches, became retrospectively referred to as batch processing, and the oxymoronic term batch job (in early use often 'batch of jobs') became common. Early use is particularly found at the University of Michigan, around the Michigan Terminal System (MTS). Although timesharing did exist, its use was not robust enough for corporate data processing; none of this was related to the earlier unit record equipment, which was human-operated. Non-interactive computation remains pervasive in computing, both for general data processing and for system 'housekeeping' tasks (using system software). A high-level program (executing multiple programs, with some additional 'glue' logic) is today most often called a script, and written in scripting languages, particularly shell scripts for system tasks; however, in DOS this is instead known as a batch file. That includes UNIX-based computers, Microsoft Windows, macOS (whose foundation is the BSD Unix kernel), and even smartphones. A running script, particularly one executed from an interactive login session, is often known as a job, but that term is used very ambiguously.