Didn't most of those programmers from the 60s and 70s have like, Master's degrees in mathematics? Computers were massive, expensive machines that were used largely by universities and research facilities - you definitely couldn't buy your own and teach yourself how to program it like you can now.
Dom Eyles knew fuck all about computers and mathematics but responded to a job offer at MIT and wrote a program that guided the lander to the moon.
His Wikipedia page says he had a BSc in mathematics from Boston University, unless this is a different guy.
To be fair, those punch cards programs had a lot of bugs that we only found years later because our tools made it easier to catch them.
"it works as long as you don't fuck it up" has always been a strong programming mentality.
It works on my machine… the only one we’re all using
python...
Yeah well good luck writing hello world in html by punching holes in cardboard
Be sure to follow the rule before you head out.
Rule: You must post before you leave.
