2024-01-08 19:03:44 +01:00
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---
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keywords: ["Alto OS", "Xerox", "Alto", 1970s, 1973]
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image: ./alto-os.webp
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description: "The Xerox Alto OS, was the first GUI system. It was way ahead of its time. We can run it on ContrAlto emulator."
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sidebar_position: 1
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---
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import DocCardList from '@theme/DocCardList';
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# Alto OS
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The Xerox Alto OS, was the first GUI system. It was way ahead of its time. We can run it on ContrAlto emulator.
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<DocCardList />
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## Manuals
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:::tip
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The manuals refer to the mouse buttons by their color. On a modern 3-button mouse, the colors map as the following:
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- Red = Left mouse button
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- Yellow = Middle mouse button
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- Blue = Right mouse button
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On most mouses, pressing the scroll-wheel simulates pressing the middle mouse button.
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:::
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You can download the Alto OS manuals from [bitsavers](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/). These are the most useful ones:
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- [Alto User's Handbook](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/Alto_Users_Handbook_Sep79.pdf)
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- [Alto Subsystems Manual](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/AltoSubsystems_Oct79.pdf)
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- [Alto Operating System Reference Manual (Part 1)](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/AltoSWRef.part1.pdf)
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- [Alto Operating System Reference Manual (Part 2)](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/AltoSWRef.part2.pdf)
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- [BCPL Reference Manual](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/bcpl/AltoBCPLdoc.pdf)
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- [Bravo Course Outline](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/BravoCourse.pdf)
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You may also be interested in the Alto hardware manual:
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- [Alto Hardware Manual (Part 1)](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/AltoHWRef.part1.pdf)
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- [Alto Hardware Manual (Part 2)](http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/AltoHWRef.part2.pdf)
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## Apps
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- [Preinstalled Apps](/1970s/1973/alto-os/preinstalled-apps/)
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## Related Pages
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- [VirtualHub Screenshots](https://screenshots.virtualhub.eu.org/1970s/1973/alto-os/)
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2024-01-26 18:15:41 +01:00
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- [Run Alto OS in your browser: ContrAltoJS](https://archives.loomcom.com/contraltojs/) (Instructions given on page)
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2024-01-08 19:03:44 +01:00
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- [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerox_Alto#Software)
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- [Computer History Wiki Alto page](https://gunkies.org/wiki/Xerox_Alto)
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- [Toasty Tech Xerox Alto page](http://toastytech.com/guis/alto.html)
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- [Toasty Tech page on running Alto OS on the older `salto` emulator](http://toastytech.com/guis/salto.html)
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- [Computer History Museum: Xerox Alto Source Code Release](https://computerhistory.org/blog/xerox-alto-source-code/)
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## Credits
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- The manuals were taken from [Bitsavers](http://bitsavers.org).
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