ON THE STANDARDIZATION OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS.

Abstract : One of the prerequisites of an evolutionary approach to the modernization of computer installations is program compatibility. The ability to execute existing applications programs must remain invariant to changes in hardware and system support software at an installation. One of the most promising ways to achieve program compatibility is the application of suitable hardware and software standards. Standards can be postulated within the current state of the technology such that installations containing different size computers supplied by different manufacturers can have the property that programs written at one installation can be executed at another installation without any reprogramming. The same exact results are obtained at any installation at which the program may be executed. Only the execution time and the number of programs which may be simultaneously serviced vary. When exact compatibility cannot be realized because of the inability to strictly adhere to these standards, a limited degree of compatibility can be attained by the use of compiler level languages to minimize reprogramming costs. (Author)