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

Edward W. Barnard

This is a sample of the book's content.Buy on Leanpub

Table of Contents

Introduction

Introduction

The First Invisible Battlefield (Radio Intelligence)

The Human Cost of Staying First
The Pattern Creators
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
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

The Second Invisible Battlefield (Nuclear Deterrence)

Project Whirlwind
Semi-Automatic Ground Environment
Engineering Research Associates
Control Data Corporation
Cray Research
My First CRAY-1
Big Iron

Legacy of the Invisible Battlefield

Software Development
My NSA Mug Shot
It Was Nothing, They Said
Ducky Day
The Transitive Property of Keeping Your Mouth Shut
The Veil
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
Sputnik Satellite Becomes Defense Priority

Road Map

Nobody but Us: A History of Cray Research's Software and the Building of the World's Fastest Supercomputer/Parallel Technology Shows Invariants

Parallel Technology Shows Invariants

https://leanpub.com/nobody-but-us

Up next

Predictive Mental Model

In this part

Predictive Mental Model
Constraint Transformation
Breakthrough Insight
The “Defensive Disclosure” Concept
Revised Mental Model
Invariants
Three-Step Process
Modern Frame of Reference
Transcendent Patterns
Transcendent Patterns
Integrating the Skill
Practicing the Insight
Cross-Cultural Insights
Summary
The Kiev Computer
A Note on Source Material
Finding the Right Viewpoint
The Kiev Computer
Comparing to the CDC 6600
Comparing to CDC 6600 (1964)
Floating-Point and Simulation
Floating Point and Simulation
Cost Per FLOP
Blocks
Polish Notation
Polish Notation
Institute in Physics and Computers
First Principles
Additional Reading
Summary