MAD (programming language)

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MAD (short for Michigan Algorithmic Decoder), was a programming language and compiler developed in 1959 at the [[University of Michigan]. It was a variant of the International algorithmic language (IAL) developed for use with their UMES operating system (which preceded the Michigan Terminal System). IAL was the original name given to the project that eventually produced ALGOL 58.

Early programs written in MAD include RUNOFF, one of the first text processing systems.

The first MAD compiler was written at the University of Michigan for the IBM 7090/7094 mainframe. In the mid 1960's it was ported at the University of Maryland to the Univac 1108. Portions of the Michigan Terminal System were written in GOM, or Good old MAD, a version of MAD for the IBM 360 series.

The archives at the Bentley Historical Library contain reference materials on the development of MAD, including three linear feet of printouts with hand-written notations and original printed manuals. ^[1]

[edit] Trivia

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In an early version the compile-time error handling was a bit odd. When a MAD program contained too many compile time errors the compiler would print a full-page picture of Alfred E. Neuman using text characters (similar to today's ASCII art). It was a humorous reference to the abbreviation MAD (Michigan Algorithmic Decoder) and the comic magazine MAD magazine whose mascot was Alfred E. Neuman. This feature was not implemented in the final official version ^[2].

[edit] See also

• ALGOL 58
• ALGOL 60

[edit] References