Episode 173 - Hybrid Programming
From Advent of Computing by Sean Haas
December 29, 2025 · 1h 3m · Episode 173
About this episode
This episode explores the challenges of programming hybrid computers that combine digital and analog systems.
Hybrid computers are composed of a digital computer linked to an analog computer. That leads to an interesting challenge: how do you write software for one of these things? The analog side actively resists programming, while the digital side can't comprehend of continuous values. In the 1960s specialized languages appeared that tried to bridge this divide. And, I assure you, they are not at all like what you would expect.
People in this episode
Host: Sean Haas
Topics covered
- hybrid computers
- digital computing
- analog computing
- programming languages
- 1960s technology
Keywords
- hybrid programming
- digital computer
- analog computer
- software development
- 1960s languages
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