JOSS, a Designers View of an Experimental on-Line Computing System
Jordana Shaw · Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) · 1899
JOSS (JOHNNIAC Open-Shop System) is an experimental on-line, time- shared computing service. It is in daily use by staff members of The RAND corporation for the solution of small numerical problems. The users compose stored programs and interact with JOSS through remote typewriter consoles by using a single, high-level language. The system is described with emphasis on those features which have led users to accept it as a convenient new tool. JOSS provides use of familiar typewriters, exact input/output, decimal arithmetic, high-level algebraic language with English punctuation rules, easy modification and repair of programs, and report-quality formatted output.