Cc: Christian Liendo

A number of years ago I got my hands on a Comstar Programmer, it programmed roms for a computer called the Comstar System 4.

I was told both the programmer and the System 4 were intel 4004 based. I asked around and kept getting told no computer was 4004 based.

I really didn't do much due diligence just some searching here and there but I found enough to show that the computer did exist and was 4004 based.[links to documents posted] I'm still trying to get more info, but I think this is some decent evidence to show there was a 4004 based computer in 1972.

This is good work, but I am reluctant to consider many early uses of microprocessors as "computers" without further explanation. The simple reasons are 1) many early implementations were for use as controllers, or logic-replacements; 2) the idea of a "computer" has changed many times from the era before microprocessor and during microprocessor developments in the early-to-mid 1970's. 3) The world of computing technology in the 2020's is so different from my world of them in the 1970's, calling something particularly early a computer obscures those changes. Fewer US people today are employed in US manufacturing or production. So "industrial" doesn't have a lot of personal context today. Apparently that Comstar 4, and certainly early use of the Intel 4004, are examples of industrialm controls. From Christian's documents, the Compstar System 4 was a replacement for ladder-logic or PLC (programmed logic) controllers for industrial control. The PLC program was cross-compiled on some mainframe or minicomputer running a FORTRAN program. That was a very common means of microprocessor programming in the early-mid 1970's. Gary Kildall (later of CP/M, Digital Research) produced FORTRAN assemblers and PL/M compilers for Intel's 8008 and 8080, for development of industrial applications. It's good to see this Comstar work become available. While I'm from the era, I certainly didn't see or know everything of the time, particularly the 4-bit era just before my engineering days. Intel's earliest 4004 literature, talks about use of 4004's to replace random logic, to produce controllers that could be manufacturer-reprogrammed. (Not by the way, user-reprogrammable, in fact 4001 ROMS were mask-programmed.) The 4004 and many other early microprocessors, were jammed into already-existing analog/digital logic instruments and even minicomputers. They replaced some user-interfacing logic for displays, keyboards, serial, data transfer. Later, they replaced the wired-up operating logic too. Microprocessor companies described and promoted their microprocessors in their application notes and press releases; early emphasis was to replace "hard-wired logic" for manufacturing and development convenience. The idea of "computers" evolved in many ways, to be brief about it. So calling something a computer begs the question of what computers were or were not at the times referenced. As far as what was produced when, and how early? Well, some company is chronologically first or second or third, in some way, of some kind of use of some microprocessor. I think it's all interesting, and since I am or was a digital engineer in the 1970's I have my own experiences of the period. The literature and media of the period, the artifacts themselves today, once found and referenced, provide first-person and empirical evidence. Those are my go-to's, so I have a lot of contexts to consider. Regards Herb Johnson -- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey USA https://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT comcast DOT net