Tag: Timeline

BASE24 and core Networking Component XPNET timeline

The technical timeline for BASE24 and its core networking component, XPNET, reflects the evolution of high-availability payment switching on HP NonStop (Tandem) systems.

Technical Evolution Timeline

  • 1980s: The Foundation
    • BASE24 Release: Originally developed by Applied Communications Inc. (now ACI Worldwide), BASE24 was built for the Tandem Guardian operating system.
    • XPNET Introduction: Developed as the Message-Oriented Middleware (MOM) to handle all transaction routing and communications. It introduced a multi-node architecture allowing different “satellite” processes (ATM, POS, Host) to communicate.
  • 1990s: Scale and Maturity
    • Classic Era: BASE24 “Classic” became the industry standard for ATM and POS switching.
    • XPNET 3.x: Enhanced to support larger networks and more complex auditing through NCPCOM.
    • Language & DB: The system relied on TAL (Tandem Application Language), COBOL, and the Enscribe database.
  • 2000s: The Shift to BASE24-eps
    • 2003–2005: ACI introduced BASE24-eps (Electronic Payment Systems). This was a re-architecture using C++ and Java to provide platform independence.
    • XPNET 4.1: Released to support the transition, adding features like Common Transport Subsystem (CTS) for better Pathway integration and support for external processes.
    • z/OS Support: By 2009, BASE24-eps was fully ported to IBM z/OS using CICS and VSAM.
  • 2010s – Present: Modernisation & Cloud
    • 2014–2017: Continued updates to BASE24 Classic R6.0, maintaining its relevance for legacy users.
    • Cloud Enablement: Recent versions of BASE24-eps focus on REST API integration via tools like LightWave, allowing legacy XPNET paths to be exposed as web services.
    • Active/Active Environments: Modern implementations focus on “continuous availability” using GoldenGate for data replication between sites. 

Key Technical Components

  • NMM (Network Management Module): The core process of XPNET that manages the configuration of lines, stations, and links.
  • LCONF: The Logical Network Configuration File used by XPNET to define how messages route between processes.
  • Auditing: XPNET provides the primary transaction auditing mechanism, which is still utilized by both Classic and eps versions.

BASE24 and core Networking Component XPNET

Betfred Historical timeline

Betfred’s journey from a single shop in Salford to a global betting powerhouse is marked by bold innovations and high-profile acquisitions. 

Historical Timeline

  • 1967: Brothers Fred and Peter Done open their first betting shop in Salford, Greater Manchester, using winnings from a bet on England to win the 1966 World Cup.
  • 1984: Launch of the Lucky 15 bet, a major industry innovation that remains popular today.
  • 1997: The company expands to over 100 shops.
  • 1998: Fred Done becomes the first bookmaker to pay out early, paying on Manchester United to win the Premier League (only for Arsenal to win the title instead).
  • 1999: First major acquisition, purchasing 40 shops from the Demmy Racing Group.
  • 2004: The business is officially rebranded to Betfred. The company also launches its online betting site this year.
  • 2006: Betfred launches one of the industry’s first mobile betting platforms.
  • 2011: Wins the auction to buy The Tote from the UK government for £265 million.
  • 2016: Acquires 322 shops from Ladbrokes and Coral following their merger.
  • 2021: Fred Done steps down as CEO to become Chairman, with Joanne Whittaker taking over the CEO role.
  • 2024–2026: Significant global expansion, establishing a presence in South Africa and the United States, though later scaling back some US online operations in late 2025.

Operational Timelines (Payment & Payouts)

If you are looking for current service timelines for transactions, here are the standard processing windows as of February 2026:

  • Withdrawal Processing: Betfred aims to approve requests within 48 hours.
  • Fastest Methods: Visa Direct and certain E-wallets (PayPal, Skrill) often arrive within 4 to 6 hours.
  • Standard Methods: Bank transfers typically take 2 to 5 working days.
  • Free Bet Credit: Usually credited within 10 hours of a qualifying bet being settled.
Betfred : 2014 – 2016
My time at Betfred, Wigan

Betfred Historical timeline

Wincor Nixdorf timeline

Wincor Nixdorf’s journey spans from a mid-century German startup to its 2016 merger with Diebold, forming a global leader in banking and retail technology. 

The Early Years (1952–1990)

  • 1952: Heinz Nixdorf founds Labor für Impulstechnik in Paderborn, Germany.
  • 1964: Launches the System 820, a pioneering programmable small computer.
  • 1968: Renamed Nixdorf Computer AG after acquiring Wanderer-Werke.
  • 1980s: Becomes a market leader in European mid-range computing and retail banking systems.
  • 1986: Heinz Nixdorf dies; the company faces financial challenges shortly after. 

Siemens Era & Rebirth (1990–1999) 

  • 1990: Siemens AG acquires the company, forming Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme (SNI).
  • 1998: Siemens refocuses the unit exclusively on banking and retail, spinning it off as Siemens Nixdorf Retail and Banking Systems GmbH.
  • 1999: Venture capital firms KKR and Goldman Sachs acquire the unit, rebranding it as Wincor Nixdorf. 

Expansion & Independence (2000–2015)

  • 2004: Wincor Nixdorf goes public with a successful IPO on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
  • 2000s: Expands into IT outsourcing and gains significant global market share in the ATM and EPOS markets.
  • 2015: Carves out its cashless payments unit into a new entity called AEVI. 

The Merger Era (2016–Present)

  • 2016: American rival Diebold Inc. completes a $1.8 billion acquisition of Wincor Nixdorf, forming Diebold Nixdorf.
  • 2023: After struggling with debt, Diebold Nixdorf files for and successfully emerges from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, restructuring its finances.
Wincor Nixdorf : 2013 – 2014

HP HPE NonStop NSK Himalaya Tandem Date Timeline

The HP NonStop (originally Tandem) timeline spans over 50 years of evolution in fault-tolerant computing, beginning with the vision of James Treybig and transitioning through several major corporate owners. 

Founding and Initial Growth (1974–1980s)

  • 1974: Tandem Computers Incorporated is founded by James (Jimmy) Treybig in Cupertino, CA.
  • 1976: The first NonStop I (T/16) servers are shipped to Citibank, introducing the “fail-fast” architecture.
  • 1981: NonStop II is introduced, adding 32-bit addressing support to the 16-bit registers.
  • 1983: NonStop TXP (Tandem Extended Processor) debuts, featuring the first use of cache memory and a native Transaction Monitoring Facility (TMF).
  • 1986: NonStop VLX (Very Large eXtension) is released, introducing 32-bit data paths and the first fault-tolerant SQL database, NonStop SQL.
  • 1987: NonStop CLX is launched as a low-cost, office-ready minicomputer system.
  • 1989: NonStop Cyclone is introduced for high-end mainframe workloads, alongside the Integrity line of Unix-based servers. 

Architecture Transitions (1990s–2000s)

  • 1991: Cyclone/R (CLX/R) marks the start of the TNS/R migration to MIPS microprocessors.
  • 1993: NonStop Himalaya K-series is released, featuring native-mode Guardian OS on MIPS R4400 processors.
  • 1994: Open System Services (OSS) adds a POSIX-compliant environment to the NonStop Kernel.
  • 1997: NonStop Himalaya S-Series introduces ServerNet, replacing older bus technologies with high-speed point-to-point connections.
  • 1997: Compaq acquires Tandem Computers to bolster its high-end enterprise server offerings.
  • 2002: Hewlett-Packard (HP) acquires Compaq, bringing Tandem technology under the HP banner as the NonStop Enterprise Division.
  • 2005: The HP Integrity NonStop (TNS/E) series is launched, migrating the architecture from MIPS to Intel Itanium processors. 

The Modern Era (2010s–Present)

  • 2014: NonStop X (TNS/X) is introduced, transitioning the platform to standard Intel x86-64 processors.
  • 2015: HP splits into HP Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE); the NonStop line moves to HPE.
  • 2017: Virtualized NonStop (vNS) is introduced, allowing the system to run in software-defined data centres and cloud environments.
  • 2020: HP ends sales of Itanium-based systems in July, completing the transition to the x86 platform.
  • 2024: The NonStop community celebrates 50 years of Tandem/NonStop technology. 
HP HPE NonStop NSK Himalaya Tandem Date Timeline

MediaCityUK BBC North Photographic Build Timeline Journal, Salford Quays

https://mark-whitfield.com/gallery/mediacityuk/

MediaCityUK BBC North Photographic Build Timeline Journal, Salford Quays

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/incoming/gallery/photographer-documents-rise-mediacityuk-15000-782727

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/photographer-documents-the-rise-of-mediacityuk-with-15000-899834

Project Plan Considerations for Producing a Timeline

Project Plan Considerations for Producing a Timeline

Timeline History of Agile Scrum Evolution, Development

Timeline History of Agile Scrum Evolution, Development

PMBOK Evolution Timeline – 1996 to 2025

PMBOK Evolution Timeline – 1996 to 2025

Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Movies in Timeline Order for Watching

Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Movies in Timeline Order for Watching | Image Courtesy of Marvel Entertainment
  1. Captain America: The First Avenger (1942)
  2. Captain Marvel (1995) – but don’t watch the post-credits scene until you’ve watched Infinity War… #spoilers
  3. Iron Man (2008)
  4. Iron Man 2 (2011)
  5. The Incredible Hulk (2011)
  6. Thor (2011) – six months before Avengers
  7. The Avengers (2012)
  8. Iron Man 3 (2012) – six months after The Avengers
  9. Thor: The Dark World (2013) – after Avengers but before Ultron
  10. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) – after Avengers but before Ultron
  11. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
  12. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (2014)
  13. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
  14. Ant-Man (2015)
  15. Captain America: Civil War (2016) – after Ultron and before Infinity War
  16. Black Widow (2016, excluding post-credits scene) – right after Civil War
  17. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2016) – after Civil War and before Infinity War
  18. Doctor Strange (2016-2017)
  19. Black Panther (2017)
  20. Thor: Ragnarok (2017) – after Ultron and before Infinity War
  21. Avengers: Infinity War (2017)
  22. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2017) – takes place at the same time as Infinity War since the post-credit scene takes place during the snap
  23. Avengers: Endgame (2017-2022)
  24. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2023)
  25. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2023)
  26. Eternals (2023, excluding flashbacks)
  27. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2024)
  28. Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2025)
  29. Thor: Love and Thunder (2025)
  30. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2025)
  31. Ant-Man: Quantumania (2026)
  32. Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 3 (2026)
  33. The Marvels (2026)
  34. Deadpool & Wolverine (Outside of time, watch whenever you like)
  35. Captain America: Brave New World (2027)
  36. Thunderbolts (2027)
  37. Fantastic Four (2028… but also the 1960s, maybe)
  38. Avenger’s Doomsday (2028)