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Do You Remember Bob?

Posted by timothy on from the i-thought-this-was-just-a-bad-dream dept.

GdoL writes: "Do you remember Bob? Byte's editor starts his monthly column talking about Bob the OS Interface from Microsoft in the middle 1990s. And he didn't forget either Bob the programming language from a former technical editor of Dr. Dobbs Journal, David Betz. This OO language is widely use on 'DVD players and set-top boxes produced by the likes of Toshiba, Samsung, and Motorola.' Do you remember any other language long forgotten that is still used in the real world?"

3 of 315 comments (clear)

  1. Forgotten languages. by kptBlaha · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Real programmers still use Fortran and Cobol. For someone who reads tons of articles about Java and Haskell and who considers C++ obsolete, may be very surprising that large part of scientific numerical computations is still done in Fortran. Do you remenber the demand for Cobol programmers in 1999 (Y2K)? The critical systems still use Cobol.

  2. assembley! by Simm0 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Although it's an oldie, assembley is still a goodie (imho atleast). I still use assembley in some code that isn't well done by the compiler (gcc) at times to get that extra ms less out of the the app. Only problem is it isnt cross platform/architecture at all.

    This is if you regard assembley as a programming language :P

  3. My kids loved Bob! by Newer+Guy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    And I credit Bob for making them feel comfortable with the computer. My son began playing with the computer at five thanks to Bob. He still occasionally asks if the Bob CD is still around. The problem with most of us is that we see things through OUR eyes as opposed to seeing through the eyes of a child. Yes, Bob was rondly trashed in reviews....and all the reviewers were ADULTS!! It shows how truly clueless so many of us can be...software designed for children being trashed by adults.