Andrew Buntine
dev.to/buntine · Personal blog · on HN since 2016
Andrew Buntine writes on dev.to about unusual computing history, languages, and projects, including ternary machines, P″, and the Sega SC-3000.
What HN saysCommenters cite his post on Soviet balanced ternary machines as a favorite lost computer type and discuss ternary computing.
17HN people shared it
2linked it in comments
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Most-shared posts
- 1DOM elements with ID's are global variables7 people · 28 points · first shared 2017 · 1 comments on HN
- 2The Balanced Ternary Machines of Soviet Russia4 people · 31 points · first shared 2016 · 1 comments on HN
- 3P″ – The original Brainf*ck and mother of the Turing tarpits3 people · 10 points · first shared 2016 · discussion on HN
- 4I made our office play personalized entrance theme music2 people · 151 points · first shared 2017 · 57 comments on HN
- 5The Sega SC-3000 Personal Computer (2018)2 people · 100 points · first shared 2018 · 8 comments on HN
- 6ClojureScript saved me 100 hours1 people · 4 points · first shared 2016 · discussion on HN
- 7Comprehending first-class continuations1 people · 3 points · first shared 2016 · discussion on HN
- 8Laser Drift: Reverse engineering slot cars for fun and (no) profit1 people · 3 points · first shared 2017 · discussion on HN
What HN people wrote when they linked it
pavlov · 2017-05-10
My favorite "lost" type of computer is the balanced ternary machines. These were actually built in the Soviet Union in the 1960s:
https://dev.to/buntine/the-balanced-ternary-machines-of-soviet-russia
Programming with trits and trytes!
Unfortunately, domestic Soviet computers were effectively killed by a 1970 decision to base all future efforts on a "Unified System" which was really a clone of IBM System/360:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ES_EVM
Playing it safe by shooting yourself in the head...
ttt111222333 · 2017-12-21
Apparently ternary is the 'sweet spot' for computing because it's closer to e (2.7...). We used binary for a while because on / off was the only way we processed stuff but now we have the ability to do ternary with more accurate measures of voltage? Something like that.
Apparently ternary makes math easier in terms of signs etc. as well. The below article explains it better.
https://dev.to/buntine/the-balanced-ternary-machines-of-soviet-russia
Given the wealth of experience with binary though I don't think its prudent to jump to ternary...