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The GNU project was officially announced on 27 September 1983 by Richard Stallman. Thirty-five years of a project that has now become the fundamental building block of everything we use and see in technology in 2018. I would not be wrong to say that there isn't a single proprietary piece of software that anyone is still using from 35 years ago – please post comments if there is something still being used.
There is only one reason for this longevity: the GNU project was built upon the premise that the code is available to anyone, anywhere with the only restriction that whatever is done to the code, it shall always be available to anyone, forever. Richard Stallman's genius in crafting the copyleft license that is the GNU General Public License is probably the best hack of the 20th century software industry.
Extra: Happy Birthday, GNU: Why I still love GNU 35 years later
(Score: 5, Interesting) by VLM on Friday September 28 2018, @12:05PM (4 children)
35 years is bullshit because of the PS/2 keyboard standard being 31 years old.
I'm typing this at 100 WPM on a genuine original edition IBM Model M with a birthdate on the bottom of 06JAN88 so my keyboard is 30+ years old now. I've been using it since the 90s when I got it from a previous employer (along with a pile of obsolete IBM PS/2 hardware)
The code in the microcontroller inside the keyboard is over thirty years old.
Now this is supposedly unusual to use a keyboard thats heavier than most laptops. However the world is full of industrial appliance type equipment with old keyboards and mice plugged in.
My MiL has a 90s era microwave oven that just won't burn out.
I have and occasionally use a TI-81 calculator dating from 1990.
(Score: 2) by deimtee on Saturday September 29 2018, @02:20AM (3 children)
My preferred calculator is the Casio FX4000P, only made in 1985. (also sold as the Radio Shack EC-4020)
I had to pay quite a bit for a second hand one a few years ago when my original finally died.
If you cough while drinking cheap red wine it really cleans out your sinuses.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 29 2018, @01:06PM (2 children)
Why do programmable calculators still cost over $100?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday September 29 2018, @06:28PM
Near-monopoly + captive market
(Score: 2) by VLM on Saturday September 29 2018, @11:50PM
Weird but true datapoint:
Most Texas Instruments education-required K12 calculators cost far more than swissmicros small production run custom products.
I have to admit I've almost pulled the trigger on buying a DM16L a ridiculous number of times. Although I have a great emulator on my phone.