Nobody but Us: A History of Cray Research's Software and the Building of the World's Fastest Supercomputer

Edward W. Barnard

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Introduction

The First Invisible Battlefield (Radio Intelligence)

The Human Cost of Staying First
The Pattern Creators
- Territorial Patterns
- Evolving Radio Technology
- Communication Patterns
- Financial Patterns
- Summary
Decoding the Bootleggers
Decoding the Naval Disarmament Conference
Flying Against the Imperial Japanese Navy
Was Location “AF” Midway, or the Aleutian Islands?
Hedy Lamarr, the Mother of WiFi

The Wizard’s Approach to Pattern Recognition

Profile of the “Real Programmer”
Think Like a Computer
The Basics With a Side of Crypto
Design an Algorithm in Your Head
What Can the NSA Teach Us About Debugging?
Problem in a Box
- Once More
- Loud Whiteboards
- Fitting the Problem Into a Box
- Task Main Loop
- Summary
Vacuum Tube Blackjack
Running the Numbers
Problem in a Box Applied

Parallel Technology Shows Invariants

Predictive Mental Model
Invariants
- Three-Step Process
- Modern Frame of Reference
Transcendent Patterns
The Kiev Computer
Comparing to the CDC 6600
- Comparing to CDC 6600 (1964)
Floating-Point and Simulation
Polish Notation
- Polish Notation
- Institute in Physics and Computers
- First Principles
- Additional Reading
- Summary

The Second Invisible Battlefield (Nuclear Deterrence)

Project Whirlwind
Semi-Automatic Ground Environment
Engineering Research Associates
- See Saw
- Index of Coincidence
- Analysis of A Single Text
- Message Comparison
- Near War’s End
- Sole Source Contract
- National Security Agency
- Purpose of Analytical Machines
- Summary
Control Data Corporation
Cray Research
My First CRAY-1
Big Iron

Legacy of the Invisible Battlefield

Software Development
- Vectorizing Software
- Seymour’s Memo
- On-Line Tape Software
- Summary
My NSA Mug Shot
It Was Nothing, They Said
Ducky Day
- The Cray Style
- Octal
- Storytelling
- Summary
The Transitive Property of Keeping Your Mouth Shut
The Veil
- Initial Visit
- Saudi Hospitality
- Feast
- Summary
Oil Across the Water
Desert Shield

The Invisible Battlefield Develops Mastery

Remembering “Scuzzy”
Gate Keeping
Imposter Syndrome
The Road Less Traveled
The Wizard’s Mirror

Teaching Rocket Science

The Search for Scientists
Lady of the Lake Discovers Bomb Test
Camelot, the German Rocket Scientists at Peenemünde
Mittelwerk Extermination
- Treaty of Versailles
- Heinrich Himmler
- Operation Barbarossa
- SS Takeover of Peenemünde
- Hans Kammler
- Staff Arrival
- Evacuation
- Redstone
Sputnik Satellite Becomes Defense Priority

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Cost Per FLOP

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Blocks

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Polish Notation

In this chapter

Floating-Point and Simulation
Floating Point and Simulation
Cost Per FLOP
Blocks