A mini-computer based library control system
William H. Josephs · ACM SIGMETRICS Performance Evaluation Review · 1978
One of the major problems encountered in any large scale programming project is the control of the software. Invariably, such large programs are divided into many smaller elements since these are easier to code, test and document. However, such a division adds new complexity to the task of Configuration Management since the many source modules, data base elements, JCL (Job Control Language) and DATA files must be controlled with the goal of maximizing program integrity and minimizing the chances of procedural errors. Furthermore, whenever any program is released either for field test or for final production, an entire change control procedure must be implemented in order to trace, install, debug and verify fixes or extensions to the original program. These maintenance activities can account for up to 80 percent of the entire programming cost in a large, multi-year project. The library control program (SYSM) presented here was developed to aid in these processes. It has facilities for capturing all elements of a program (commonly called baselining), editing any element or group of elements that have been baselined to build an updated version of the program, adding and/or deleting elements of a program, and listing the current contents of a given element or elements. SYSM is written mainly in FORTRAN, and runs on a Hewlett-Packard HP-21MX computer with two tape drives, the vendor supplied RTE-II or RTE-III operating system, and at least 16K of user available core. It can be used to control code targeted for either the HP21MX itself, or, using the optional HP/LSI-11 link program, code targeted for a Digital Equipment Corp. LSI-11 system.