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Just a few days ago, I realized, the best thing to update somebody else's code, would be to print it out and take it to bed with me, so I can read the source wi
by zmix 8y ago
Just a few days ago, I realized, the best thing to update somebody else's code, would be to print it out and take it to bed with me, so I can read the source without starring into that lamp (the monitor). I also could make notes with a pen, like placing the line number next to a function call (pointing to the function definition), etc.
Problem was, that the printout would have been over a hundred pages. Too expensive and feels like a waste of resources.
Then I remembered dot-matrix printers and checked out the market. They go about EUR200+ these days. Sadly, the one I'd liked (DIN A3 format, so to be able to print out long lines of code without wrapping, with 4 colors for some basic syntax highlite) are in the EUR1000 range.
My text-editor on the Amiga (in the 90's) would have a special print utility, that would allow to format the text (source code) in a way to fit as much text on the paper as possible, by choosing a smaller font, having multiple columns, etc.
Interestingly, nothing similar seems in production, these days.
So, ideally there'd be an affordable dot-matrix color printer, without a fixed line length (set it in the driver), and some pleasing monotype font for coders (including special chars like function arrows) as one of its internal charsets along with a utility I described above. My eyes would love it!
- jamespo 8y agotry a2ps, used to use it at University to get multiple pages on 1 sheet: https://www.gnu.org/software/a2ps/ https://www.gnu.org/software/a2ps/
- detaro 8y agoModern office inkjet printers can be quite cheap too, at ~3$ ink cost per thousand pages b/w. E.g. Canon's Pixma G series has models with integrated tanks you can refill with ink bottles (instead of cartridges).
- Klinky 8y agoIf it's a hundred pages on laser, how is it going to be any fewer pages on dot matrix? It's not like dot matrix is going to magically improve spatial information density. Also toner is the most efficient use of ink, a ribbon is certainly not efficient.
- biggusdickus 8y agoCheck out Sony DPT-RP1.
- userbinator 8y agoThey go about EUR200+ these days. Sadly, the one I'd liked (DIN A3 format, so to be able to print out long lines of code without wrapping, with 4 colors for some basic syntax highlite) are in the EUR1000 range. The reason for this being that they're still produced with the same level of quality they used to be, while "consumer level" printers have become more cost-optimised and less reliable. Dot matrix printers are still used in commercial/industrial applications so they haven't been subjected to the same race-to-the-bottom that consumer printers have.
- zmix 8y agoYes, I understand. InkJets bring in the money via the ink and also, the market for dot-matrix must now be smaller, than it was, when that printing technique was the only affordable on the market.