Computer History Museum

***** DRAFT ***** Paul McJones paul@mcjones.org https://mcjones.org/dustydecks Last modified 18 July 2026 Abstract John Backus explored a sequence of applicative, functional and function-level languages starting before 1969 and continuing until he retired in 1991. The goal of this project is to preserve the surviving materials from this research and to put them into context. Comments, suggestions, and donations of additional materials are greatly appreciated.

"Cambridge Modula-3 is a variant of SRC Modula-3 developed at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory. It includes an updated build system with configuration file support (no more having to rebuild the distribution whenever you move it), language additions to allow debugging, NT386GNU support for gcc on Windows 95 and NT, a number of extra packages, and Blair MacIntyre's portable pickle package version 2.0. Its main aims are: To provide facilities we would like for our research work.

Enjoy a performance by the Googler Orchestra, a self-organized symphony orchestra that consists of musically-inclined Alphabet employees, featuring Pictures at an Exhibition, Mason Bates' Mothership, video game music, and more! The concert is included with Museum admission. Google employees receive complimentary admission with proof of employment. Purchase Museum Admission Time: 2–3:30 p.m. Location: Hahn Auditorium

Are AI chips the new frontier of computing? What happens when the world’s biggest cloud companies stop buying chips and start designing their own? In this program, we’ll unpack how companies once defined by software are now building custom silicon to run faster, cheaper, and at an unprecedented scale. The resulting competition is influencing global datacenter design and supply chains, marking a major new chapter in the evolution of AI.

What happens when one of the most transformative technologies in history collides with one of the most complex and high-stakes industries? At CHM Live on June 30, 2026, journalist and author Katie Hafner sat down with Dr. Robert Wachter, chair of the Department of Medicine at UCSF and author of A Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our Future.

Come and explore an extraordinary showcase of historical computers, from pristine originals to ingenious modern hacks. Computer enthusiasts around the world look forward to the annual Vintage Computer Festival. Experience hands-on demos of historical systems from the 1960s through the 1990s, learn preservation tips, and try out brands like Apple, Atari, Commodore, Tandy/Radio Shack, and more.

On July 26, 2006, CHM curator Dag Spicer received an unexpected email from a freelance tax advisor based in Dortmund, Germany. It described what appeared to be a lost trove of rare computers abandoned in a warehouse in the town of Castrop-Rauxel. Located in Germany’s industrial Ruhr region, the town was a center of coal mining and fuel production during World War II, and a frequent target of Allied bombing raids. Was it possible anything so important could have survived?

Few people know that many Apple products—including the iPhone—are running on software developed nearly 40 years ago at NeXT. On stage at CHM Live on May 26, 2026, Geoffrey Cain, author of the new book Steve Jobs in Exile: The Untold Story of NeXT and the Remaking of an American Visionary, moderated a discussion with NeXT insiders Dan’l Lewin, Avie Tevanian, and Bud Tribble. Insider Rich Page shared memories in a recorded video early in the program.

2017 CHM Fellow We are saddened to share that 2017 CHM Fellow Cleve Moler passed away on May 20, 2026, at the age of 86 at his home surrounded by his family. Moler was a visionary mathematician, computer scientist, and cofounder of MathWorks. Recognized globally as the creator of MATLAB, Moler revolutionized numerical computing and transformed how scientists, engineers, and researchers model the world.

On June 20, CHM explores how inventors, makers, and artists use groundbreaking technology to expand the boundaries of creativity and imagination. Like all of CHM’s all-day TechFest events, Maker’s Lab features special activities and hands-on experiences for all ages, included with Museum admission.