Structure of the multics supervisor

Abstract

This paper is a preliminary report on a system which has not yet been implemented. Of necessity, it therefore reports on status and objectives rather than on performance. We are impelled to produce such a prospectus by two considerations. First, time-sharing and multiprogramming are currently of great interest to many groups in the computing fraternity; a number of time-sharing systems are now being developed. Discussion of the issues and presentation of goals and techniques is valuable only if it is timely, and the appropriate time is now. Second, every large project undergoes a subtle alteration of goals as it proceeds, extending its aims in some areas, retracting them in others. We believe it will prove valuable to us and others to have on record our intentions of 1965, so that in 1966 and 1967 an unambiguous evaluation of our successes and failures can be made.