Why is it called a terminal emulator?

[Maximilian]

What is it emulating??

 

[mv2devnull]

Computer terminal. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_terminal

 

[Cerb]

What is it emulating??

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VT100

Typically, that. The functionality of all those early terminals was hardwired. There either were no ICs, or there were ICs too simple to be considered processors. They were effectively keyboards and text-only monitors attached to a giant computer.

Computers got more powerful, and that functionality was easy to do in software, rather than at the big computer. But, those giant computers, and the software they ran, was still around, and still useful. So, programs to act like those hardware terminals came about. Then, shells and interface libraries started expecting behavior just like those terminals, because the developers used a terminal emulator for their local console, leading to the never-ending loop we are still in today (emulating 40-year-old hardware to make use of our brand new hardware).

 

[MasterOfUsers]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VT100

Typically, that. The functionality of all those early terminals was hardwired. There either were no ICs, or there were ICs too simple to be considered processors. They were effectively keyboards and text-only monitors attached to a giant computer.

Computers got more powerful, and that functionality was easy to do in software, rather than at the big computer. But, those giant computers, and the software they ran, was still around, and still useful. So, programs to act like those hardware terminals came about. Then, shells and interface libraries started expecting behavior just like those terminals, because the developers used a terminal emulator for their local console, leading to the never-ending loop we are still in today (emulating 40-year-old hardware to make use of our brand new hardware).

Or they were actual VT100 terminals with a cpu, a keyboard, a monitor and usually a serial connection to the server. They had no internal storage capacity and the memory capacity was pretty much what was stored on screen, everything was run on the server and transferred via serial connection (up to 14.1kbs on later terminals like the VT200, the orignal VT100 had a maximum speed of 9600bps).

 

[Sheep221]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VT100

Typically, that. The functionality of all those early terminals was hardwired. There either were no ICs, or there were ICs too simple to be considered processors. They were effectively keyboards and text-only monitors attached to a giant computer.

Computers got more powerful, and that functionality was easy to do in software, rather than at the big computer. But, those giant computers, and the software they ran, was still around, and still useful. So, programs to act like those hardware terminals came about. Then, shells and interface libraries started expecting behavior just like those terminals, because the developers used a terminal emulator for their local console, leading to the never-ending loop we are still in today (emulating 40-year-old hardware to make use of our brand new hardware).

Computers just like other things, only get improved, they are not becoming any different.
Wheel was invented 6500 BC yet land vehicles are still using them.

 

[xgsound]

Long ago in a galaxy far far away .... The first terminal (main I/O with computer) I recall was a relay operated teletype with no memory other than the paper it printed on or punched for storage. Punch paper tape was used to automate repetitive input.

When the CRTs first came out that was fantastically fast and quiet. When graphics were added we were flying in the future.

The emulators pretend to be the simple teletype for the most basic and universal communication and to input more complex software.

Jim

 

[whiteonline]

What is it emulating??

Kids...

(some random get off my lawn post )

 

[Eug]

Maximilian's post makes me feel old.

...but not as old as xgsound.

Long ago in a galaxy far far away .... The first terminal (main I/O with computer) I recall was a relay operated teletype with no memory other than the paper it printed on or punched for storage.

We used the teletype-like terminals to print out our program code (for the programs we programmed on the regular terminals).

We went through a LOT of paper.