22 lines
946 B
Markdown
22 lines
946 B
Markdown
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---
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tags: [computer-history]
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created: Tuesday, November 12, 2024
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---
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# Batch processing
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With modern computer systems programs can be executed continuously and as
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needed. With earlier computers (e.g. mainframes or mini-computers that were
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shared by multiple users throughout an organisation) operating on this basis
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would be expensive and would squander resources. It would also be inefficient
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because computers needed time to warm up and cool down between operations.
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Batch processing meant waiting until the required data for the operation met a
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certain volume or threshold and then running the job. This way all the computer
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resources were used at once instead repeatedly over an extended period.
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Running operations in batch rather than in real-time also meant you could time
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when you used the computer, running your jobs during off-peak hours when more
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resources would be available. Particularly beneficial during the era of
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time-sharing.
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