Programmed Data Processor model 11.
A series of
minicomputers based on an
instruction set
designed by C. Gordon Bell at
DEC in the early 1970s (late
60s?). The PDP-11 family, which came after, but was not
derived from, the
PDP-10, was the most successful computer
of its time until it was itself succeeded by the
VAX.
Models included the 11/23 and 11/24 (based on the F11
chipset); 11/44, 11/04, 11/34, 11/05, 11/10, 11/15, 11/20,
11/35, 11/40, 11/45, 11/70, 11/60 (
MSI and
SSI);
LSI-11/2
and
LSI-11 (
LSI-11 chipset). In addition there were the 11/8x
(J11 chipset) and SBC-11/21 (T11 chip) and then there was
compatibility mode in the early
VAX processors.
The
B and
C languages were both used initially to
implement
Unix on the PDP-11. The
microprocessor design
tradition owes a heavy debt to the PDP-11
instruction set.
See also
SEX.
(1994-12-21)