4,494
edits
(Lots of Wikipedia links) |
|||
(10 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[File:Dyalog head office.jpg|thumb|right|Dyalog's head office]] | [[File:Dyalog head office.jpg|thumb|right|Dyalog's head office]] | ||
'''Dyalog Ltd.''' (originally Dyadic Systems Ltd.) is the vendor for [[Dyalog APL]] and organiser of the [[Dyalog user meeting]]. Founded as an APL consultancy, Dyadic also became a reseller of [[IBM]] hardware but is now supported primarily by sales of Dyalog APL. | |||
== History == | == History == | ||
Line 7: | Line 6: | ||
=== Dyadic Systems consulting === | === Dyadic Systems consulting === | ||
Dyadic Systems was formed in 1976 by Ted Hare | Dyadic Systems was formed in 1976 by manager and administrator Phil Goacher with sales lead Ted Hare and APL experts David Crossley, [[Geoff Streeter]], and John Stembridge, all from the APL group at Atkins Computing, which was part of [[wikipedia:Atkins (company)|WS Atkins]] and a [[time-sharing]] provider.<ref>[[Geoff Streeter]]. [https://www.dyalog.com/blog/2018/03/phil-goacher-05-11-40-09-03-18/ "Phil Goacher (05-11-40 – 09-03-18)"]. Dyalog blog. 2018-03-29.</ref> Targetting large companies and especially [[wikipedia:Rank Xerox|Rank Xerox]], Dyadic aimed "to establish a dominant position in a small part of the market based on a reputation for excellence" promoted by "excellent salaries and working conditions", according to its initial prospectus.<ref>[http://archive.vector.org.uk/art10013840 "Dyadic Systems Limited: A Prospective Computing Consultancy"]. 1976.</ref> Because it was not tied to a particular vendor, the company's employees gained experience with many APL dialects. Of these, the most used were [[SHARP APL]], [[APL*PLUS]], and [[Sigma APL]], but Dyadic also worked with APLs from [[IBM]], [[wikipedia:Digital Equipment Corporation|DEC]], [[wikipedia:Honeywell|Honeywell]], [[wikipedia:Burroughs Corporation|Burroughs]], and others, and some non-APL languages. IBM's promotion of [[VS APL]] as a platform became another source of demand for APL consulting.<ref name="taylor">Stephen Taylor. [http://archive.vector.org.uk/art10013790 "How we got here"]. [[Vector journal]] Volume 23 special supplement "Dyalog at 25". 2008-09.</ref> | ||
During this period Dyadic hired Pauline Brand and [[Pete Donnelly]]. | During this period Dyadic hired Pauline Brand, and [[Pete Donnelly]] of [[wikipedia:W. H. Smith|W. H. Smith]].<ref name="donnelly">[[Peter Donnelly]]. [https://www.dyalog.com/uploads/files/apl50/Dyalog%20APL%20A%20Personal%20History.pdf "Dyalog APL: A Personal History"].</ref> | ||
=== Dyalog APL === | === Dyalog APL === | ||
The market for personal computers was quickly growing at the beginning of the 1980s. As a consulting rather than a timesharing business, Dyadic was not tied to the mainframe model, but was hindered by the small number of APL implementations for PC. | The market for personal computers was quickly growing at the beginning of the 1980s. As a consulting rather than a timesharing business, Dyadic was not tied to the mainframe model, but was hindered by the small number of APL implementations for PC. In 1981, the company met with [[wikipedia:Zilog|Zilog]] UK regarding the upcoming System 8000, based on the [[wikipedia:Zilog Z8000|Z8000]] processor. Zilog wanted an APL for the Z8000 because of a requirement set by the Swedish Ministry of Defence for Unix suppliers. | ||
Dyalog (Europe) Ltd. was registered for this purpose in 1981. The new name blended those of the two collaborators, as mentioned in the press release: | |||
Dyalog (Europe) Ltd. was registered for this purpose in 1981. The new | |||
<blockquote> | <blockquote> | ||
This company is DYALOG (EUROPE) LIMITED, | This company is DYALOG (EUROPE) LIMITED, | ||
Line 30: | Line 27: | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
Zilog provided | Zilog provided a dedicated Z8000 minicomputer and development facilities for the Dyalog language. Dyadic hired [[John Scholes]] (another Atkins employee, who had left to work as a developer on an APL implementation for the [[wikipedia:ICL 2900|ICL 2900]]) as designer and chief programmer for the project. [[Geoff Streeter]] and David Crossley joined Scholes as Dyalog implementors. | ||
The choice to implement Dyalog in [[wikipedia:C (programming language)|C]] on a [[wikipedia:UNIX|UNIX]] system would later enable Dyalog APL to be ported to many other systems. The choice to make Dyalog a [[Nested array model|nested]] APL like [[NARS]] and the in-process [[APL2]] would also have a major effect on Dyalog's development as a company. | The choice to implement Dyalog in [[wikipedia:C (programming language)|C]] on a [[wikipedia:UNIX|UNIX]] system would later enable Dyalog APL to be ported to many other systems. The choice to make Dyalog a [[Nested array model|nested]] APL like [[NARS]] and the in-process [[APL2]] would also have a major effect on Dyalog's development as a company. | ||
Dyalog was released at the [[APL83|1983 APL Conference]] in Washington, D.C., a venue it shared with | [[Dyalog APL]] was released at the [[APL83|1983 APL Conference]] in Washington, D.C., a venue it shared with MicroAPL's [[APL.68000]] and [[STSC]]'s [[APL*PLUS/PC]]. Initial sales were slow due to the obscurity at the time of the nested array model, Unix operating system, and Zilog system in addition to Dyalog APL's poor [[performance]] relative to other APLs exhibited. | ||
[[File:DyalogV5.0FrontCover.png|thumb|right|Dyalog version 5.0 front cover (1987)]] | |||
=== Purchase by Lynwood === | === Purchase by Lynwood === | ||
Line 56: | Line 54: | ||
Also in 1991, Dyadic began collaborating with George Kunzle on the PC program which would later be named KPS (Kunzle Planning System). The two lead developers of KPS were Guy Haddleton and [[Morten Kromberg]]. | Also in 1991, Dyadic began collaborating with George Kunzle on the PC program which would later be named KPS (Kunzle Planning System). The two lead developers of KPS were Guy Haddleton and [[Morten Kromberg]]. | ||
In 2000, [[wikipedia:Microsoft|Microsoft]] contacted Dyadic systems to ask for their participation in the project that would later be called [[.NET]]. Dyadic responded positively and | In 2000, [[wikipedia:Microsoft|Microsoft]] contacted Dyadic systems to ask for their participation in the project that would later be called [[.NET]]. Dyadic responded positively, and [[John Daintree]] began collaborating with Microsoft employees both on the design of .NET and on Dyalog support for it. | ||
=== Dyalog Limited === | === Dyalog Limited === | ||
Line 64: | Line 62: | ||
=== Takeover by Adaytum employees === | === Takeover by Adaytum employees === | ||
In 2004, Donnelly approached [[Morten Kromberg]] and [[Gitte Christensen]] of [[Adaytum Software]] to ask them to take over management of the company. With backing from [[wikipedia:SimCorp|Simcorp]] and APL Italiana, the pair began leadership on 7 April 2005. | In 2004, Donnelly approached [[Morten Kromberg]] and [[Gitte Christensen]] of [[Adaytum Software]] to ask them to take over management of the company. With backing from [[wikipedia:SimCorp|Simcorp]] and APL Italiana, the pair began leadership on 7 April 2005.<ref>[http://archive.vector.org.uk/art10014220 "New Management at Dyalog Ltd."]. [[Vector journal]] Volume 21 No. 2. 2005-02.</ref> | ||
In March 2007, Dyalog's growing team moved to its current office in [[wikipedia:Bramley, Hampshire|Bramley, Hampshire]]. The office, a restored barn including original oak beams, was chosen in part for its large windows with a view of a nearby wheat field.<ref>[http://archive.vector.org.uk/art10011430 News from sustaining members]: Country Life. [[Vector journal]] volume 23 issue 1. 2008-01.</ref> | |||
[[File:Dyalog Ducks.png|thumb|right|Dyalog ducks]] | [[File:Dyalog Ducks.png|thumb|right|Dyalog ducks]] | ||
== The Dyalog duck == | == The Dyalog duck == | ||
Line 77: | Line 78: | ||
Dyalog arranges several recurring events (for dates see Dyalog's [https://www.dyalog.com/dates-for-your-diary.htm Event calendar]): | Dyalog arranges several recurring events (for dates see Dyalog's [https://www.dyalog.com/dates-for-your-diary.htm Event calendar]): | ||
* [ | * [[APL Problem Solving Competition]] | ||
* [[Dyalog user meeting]] | * [[Dyalog user meeting]] | ||
Line 108: | Line 109: | ||
* [https://functionalconf.com/ FunctionalConf] | * [https://functionalconf.com/ FunctionalConf] | ||
== References == | |||
<references/> | |||
{{APL development}}[[Category:Vendors]] | {{APL development}}[[Category:Vendors]] |