Date: 17 May 83 1:51:43-PDT (Tue) From: Billw@sri-unix.arpa To: info-micro@brl.arpa Redistributed-by: Dave Mankins Redistributed-to: info-cobol@mc,.../list:@BBN-UNIX Redistributed-date: 17 May 1983 10:49:53 EDT (Tuesday) To: info-micro@brl Subject: CACM to merge with Byte ***** sri-unix:net.misc / parsec!Anonymous / 11:46 pm May 7, 1983 a074 0226 29 Apr 83 PM-CACM Folds, Fkr,237 America's Finest Computer Journal to Fall Eds: Human interest for computer related Sunday supplement By V. K. Rokofu Unassociated Press Writer SILICONE VALLEY (UP) - The world of academic computer science was rocked today by an announcement by Peter J. Denning that the foremost journal of computer science (The Communications of the ACM: CACM) will cease publication with its March issue. The publication is merging with Byte magazine, a popular hobbyist computer rag. Readers of the CACM knew something was amiss when they received their recent March issue which contained almost no technical matter whatsoever. The journal which formerly published papers pushing forward the state of art in computer had resorted to articles such as "Comparing Two Microcomputer Systems: CP/M and HDOS" and "Remote Office Work: Changing Work Patterns in Space and Time". Advertisements for such state-of-the-art companies as Macmillan publishing (books on BASIC-80 and CP/M) appear in the March issue. The March issue also featured children and Apple microcomputers on its cover. "We're simply delighted that CACM has seen the light", exclaimed Mark Haas, managing editor of Byte magazine. "We saw their editorial content deteriorating over the last year and figured that 1983 was going to be the year of hobbyist computing for CACM!" Dr. Denning, former chairman of Purdue University's Computer Science Department, announced Dr. D. Dobbs as his replacement editor. He also named Dr. Portia Isaacson as Technology Trends and Fashion Editor. Feature editors include Adam Osborne (architecture and aesthetics), David Ahl (software for the masses), and Steve Ciarcia (logic design and hardware). "It's just too damn much work to keep trying to think up new material every month", Dr. Denning sighed. "It's a lot easier to recycle stuff from the earlier years of computing and peddle it as ''state of the art microcomputer research''. I've made a bundle consulting on just that kind of stuff." In keeping with the academic bent, the new CACM/Byte magazine's next issue will have articles by key researchers and authors in the field. "BASIC Not Considered Harmful At All" by Edsgar Dijkstra headlines the issue, guest edited by Steven Jobs, founder and genius behind Apple Computer Corporation. The issue includes a program in which every line is either the source or sink of a "goto" command. "Assembler Programming For Fun and Profit" leads the new "home entrepreneur" section, edited this month by Adele Goldberg, a reformed high level language programmer. Dr. Goldberg, who recently joined the staff of CACM/Byte after hearing of the merger, explained that "Peter's right. It's just a real hassle designing new languages and systems all the time. Assembler is where it's always been: speed, power, ego. I've been a closet 'asm' programmer for years and I've finally decided to share my joy with the world." Some of the surprises in the next issue include a non-bitter article by Dr. Niklaus Wirth: "Why Real Men Program in Fortran". When contacted at his bank in Zurich, Dr. Wirth commented, "Peter's got a real winner here all right. Ever since I designed and constructed that turkey called the Lilith, I've known that microcomputers were the home of the fast buck. I figure I can recycle all my old crap in about two years and make maybe ten times as much money as I did the first time around." One disappointment to many universities will be the removal of the old "Position Announcements" section and its replacement by a "Personal Advertisements" section. Typical personal ads resemble: "Straight White FORTH programmer desires to meet Female with BASIC background that is stacked well..." The new CACM/Byte will no longer contain the "Calls for Papers" for most of the high-technology computer conferences. "They were boring, anyway" says young Mortimer Antiluchee, 10 year old APPLE computer owner, whose picture was featured on the cover of the March, 1983 CACM issue. The cover also shows geriatric computing, a house for former Algol programmers, and scores of cars fleeing Boston's minicomputer manufacturers for the greener pastures of microcomputing. In a related announcement, ACM Associate Editor in Chief Lloyd Fosdick explained that CACM will now stand for "Childrens' & Adolescents' Computer Magazine". He elaborated, "We've known this was coming since the first budget shortage. Byte has been making bucketfuls of money and it's time we cashed in before the industry is overrun by teenage computer hackers." When contacted for comment, Yoko Sunoto, High Technology Minister for Japan's Fifth Generation Computer Project, stated, "Ha ha. Isn't technology wonderful? Last year most of those guys couldn't even spell computer. We will bury you." ----------