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About 30 years ago, Java hadn't even shipped version 1 yet. Windows 3.11 was all the range. Mobile development wasn't a thing. Networking personal computers
by danesparza 4y ago
About 30 years ago, Java hadn't even shipped version 1 yet.
Windows 3.11 was all the range.
Mobile development wasn't a thing.
Networking personal computers was a big deal. There were several architectures up for grabs, and several major players (including Netware) in the mix. It wasn't clear which path developers should follow.
The internet (on personal computers anyway) wasn't really a thing yet.
On Windows, the Component Object Model had just been shipped, and it was all the rage with Windows developers.
Keeping source code in version control was a novel idea. (Mercurial and git were 10+ years away)
Many things haven't changed though. It was important to be current on technology then as it is now.
It continues to be important to be able to communicate well. Software is a domain of the mind because we take ideas in our head and translate them to bits. You need to be able to have a mental model of the problem space and communicate it clearly with peers and clients.
- pasc1878 4y agoSource code control was a known thing. I had been using PVCS for 6 years by then - and when on Unix RCS. I got annoyed in the 80s with people who had messed the code base up so we could not compile from a fresh checkout. Yes communication between people was and still is the most important thing. Note that this usually needs meetings in person
- danesparza 4y agoI had forgotten about PVCS! Thanks for that memory. :-)
- marcus0x62 4y ago> and when on Unix RCS And SCCS was available before that.
- jrochkind1 4y agoYeah, I remember switching from CVS to svn in.. the late 90s? I am not sure when? I think cvs was already a well established thing by 1992, with many people using it. (and others using proprietary version control systems). But it's true that it wasn't yet as universal as it is now, small shops might or might not use version control.