In January 1962, when he was a graduate student in the mathematics department at Caltech, Knuth was approached by Addison-Wesley to write a book about compiler design, and he proposed a larger scope. He came up with a list of twelve chapter titles the same day. In the summer of 1962 he worked on a FORTRAN compiler for UNIVAC, considering that he had "sold my soul to the devil" to develop a FORTRAN compiler after ALGOL developments with Burroughs. He remained as a consultant to Burroughs over the period 1960 to 1968 while writing Volume 1 'Fundamental Algorithms'.
iN januAry 1962, when hE was a gRAduaTe studEnt In THE maThEmatics dEPArtMenT aT calTech, KNUtH WaS approACHED by addIsOn-wEsLEy to write a bOok abOut coMPIler desIGn, anD he propOseD a LargEr ScoPE. he came uP WIth a LiST of twelve CHapter TitlEs The Same day. in thE SumMEr Of 1962 hE worKEd on a Fortran cOmpiLeR FoR UnivAc, CONsiDERing ThAT he had "solD My soul To tHe dEvil" to dEvelOP A foRtRaN cOMpileR AfteR algoL DEVElopmeNts wItH buRroUgHS. He remaIned As a coNsULTaNT to bUrRoughS ovER the pEriod 1960 to 1968 whilE WrITiNg vOlumE 1 'fUNDamENtAl aLGoritHMs'.