Comment by zargon
15 hours ago
The idea that it never existed digitally is obviously untrue. Likely poor wording in the author's part. They probably meant something like, so old that a printout is all that survived (which sounds vaguely like not being digital to someone in an era so far removed from a time when programs were/could realistically be printed.)
Having printouts were necessary when:
1. you were using a DECwriter dot matrix printer as a terminal
2. using an ASR-33 teletype as a terminal
3. using punch cards or paper tape
4. using a glass tty that could only display 24 lines
5. when you did not have a remote terminal, and wanted to spread your code out on a table and debug it
Brings back memories of desk checking
> a time when programs were/could realistically be printed
Really depends on the program. Source code is often quite manageable. Even artifacts aren't always as large as you might expect. Busybox on my system weighs in at 1.9 MiB or alternatively 928 KiB with zstd maxed out.
But I don't really see a point to printing any of it. A situation that might require the printouts is likely to largely preclude the continued existence of modern electronics, the ability to replace batteries, or even a connection to a reliable electrical grid.
Yeah, that's why I tried to include both categories. Even for programs that are small enough to be printed, we just don't do it any more. I could have worded that part better myself.