MANIAC

ABSTRACT

The MANIAC is a general purpose, electronic, digital computer which has been designed and constructed at the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory. The construction period dates from June of 1949 to March of 1952, when the first major problem was run. Originally, the intention was to reproduce the computer which was then under development at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey.1 However, it soon became clear that the central problem in computer research — a suitable storage system — was a major one, and it seemed advisable to try a separate approach to that solution. Eventually this supplementary development was extended to the other components. Before proceeding with this report, we would like to express our gratitude to Professor John von Neumann and his colleagues at the computer project at the Institute for Advanced Study for the many fruitful and stimulating discussions dating from 1944.