Time-shared program testing

We describe a system being developed at MIT to make possible direct, real-time contact between programmers and computer. Many programmers are given the same near-simultaneous ability through time-shared computer use with routines designed to minimize programmer decision time. This involves connection of a number of typewriters to a computer, a language for communication, a program filing system which can allow fast access to one of many partially run programs in memory or on file, and a monitor program to insure safety of the programs not being run and for analyzing the program under test. The results of preliminary experiments on the IBM 704 will be described.