”’GRASP”’ was a [[systems software]] package that provided [[spooling]] facilities for the [[IBM/370]] running [[DOS/VS]]<ref>{{cite journal |date= 1 Oct 1975 |title= A Better ‘Grasp’ on VS |journal= [[Computerworld]] |volume= 9 |issue= 40 |page= 15 |publisher= [[IDG Enterprise]] |issn= 0010-4841 |accessdate= 14 Oct 2011 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=fiYS7TkQGCUC&pg=PA15 }}</ref> or [[DOS/VSE]] environment, and [[IBM/360]] running [[DOS/360]].
”’GRASP”’ was a [[systems software]] package that provided [[spooling]] facilities for the [[IBM/370]] running [[DOS/VS]]<ref>{{cite journal |date= 1 Oct 1975 |title= A Better ‘Grasp’ on VS |journal= [[Computerworld]] |volume= 9 |issue= 40 |page= 15 |publisher= [[IDG Enterprise]] |issn= 0010-4841 |accessdate= 14 Oct 2011 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=fiYS7TkQGCUC&pg=PA15 }}</ref> or [[DOS/VSE]] environment, and [[IBM/360]] running [[DOS/360]].
== The product ==
== ==
GRASP was a [[Mainframe computer|mainframe]] [[operating system]] enhancement available for DOS, DOS/VS, DOS/VSE, and some third party DOS-based operating systems. Subsequent versions became known as GRASP/VS and GRASP/VSE.
GRASP was a [[Mainframe computer|mainframe]] [[operating system]] enhancement available for DOS, DOS/VS, DOS/VSE, and some third party DOS-based operating systems. Subsequent versions became known as GRASP/VS and GRASP/VSE.
It ”[[Spooling|spooled]]” (queued) input and output data, freeing programs from dependence on the speed of peripherals, such as printers and punched card equipment.
It ”[[Spooling|spooled]]” (queued) input and output data, freeing programs from dependence on the speed of peripherals, such as printers and punched card equipment.
GRASP was the first such spooler for [[IBM]] mainframes,<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite book |last=Philipson |first=Graeme |url=https://www.acs.org.au/insightsandpublications/reports-publications/vision-spendid.html |title=A Vision Splendid: The History of the Australian Computer Industry |date=2017-10-09 |publisher=[[Australian Computer Society]] |isbn=978-0-6481668-0-1 |language=en}}</ref> although it later had competition from IBM’s own [[Power (software)|POWER]] as well as DataCorp’s ”Spooler”.
GRASP was the first such spooler for [[IBM]] mainframes,<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite book |last=Philipson |first=Graeme |url=https://www.acs.org.au/insightsandpublications/reports-publications/vision-spendid.html |title=A Vision Splendid: The History of the Australian Computer Industry |date=2017-10-09 |publisher=[[Australian Computer Society]] |isbn=978-0-6481668-0-1 |language=en}}</ref> although it later had competition from IBM’s own [[Power (software)|POWER]] as well as DataCorp’s ”Spooler”.
==Platforms==
==Platforms==
GRASP was a systems software package that provided spooling facilities for the IBM/370 running DOS/VS[1] or DOS/VSE environment, and IBM/360 running DOS/360.
Overview
GRASP was a mainframe operating system enhancement available for DOS, DOS/VS, DOS/VSE, and some third party DOS-based operating systems. Subsequent versions became known as GRASP/VS and GRASP/VSE.
It spooled (queued) input and output data, freeing programs from dependence on the speed of peripherals, such as printers and punched card equipment.
GRASP was the first such spooler for IBM mainframes,[2] although it later had competition from IBM’s own POWER as well as DataCorp’s Spooler.
Platforms
GRASP ran on the IBM/360 and IBM/370 and clones under DOS/VS, DOS/VSE, and DOS/360.
GRASP required a dedicated partition. With DOS having only three partitions and DOS/VS seven, losing a partition restricted what the mainframe could run. However, the concept of the F0 partition meant this could run without the host computer giving up a partition. For DOS/VS and DOS/VSE versions, SDI re-engineered a version of Fx developed for DOCS and Spooler.
History
GRASP was originally developed in Australia by Boyd Munro, while working for IBM (who turned it down).[2] Assisted by Peter Hargrave, Munro formed Software Design, Inc (known as SDI) and began selling first in Australia, then Britain, and shortly thereafter the United States, through SDI, Inc, a California corporation. The marketing manager and chief salesman was Gerry Novotny.
