Oldest code in a typical Linux distro

Question

Just out of curiosity: What's the oldest code/package in a typical linux distro? Emacs? GCC?

Answer 1

Sun RPC is pretty old, and it's in the C library:
http://blogs.sun.com/webmink/entry/old_code_and_old_licenses

Answer 2

I guess this will be gcc as it was one of the first products from GNU and existed long before linux came.

Answer 3

In user space, there's a lot of code in coreutils that was written by RMS, which has not changed much since. The GNU project started out with lots of people writing free replacements to the UNIX core utilities (i.e. ls, cp, rm, etc), before the use of a window manager was even contemplated.

If you grab the source to the package, you'll find a lot of it.

Answer 4

CC the compiler.

With its built in back door for building the login command.

Answer 5

I would say Paul Vixie Cron and the SYS V utilities (init) are some of the oldest stand-alone packages. They are at long last replaced by upstart and other dependency- and event-based schemes.

Answer 6

My guess would also be the gcc (GNU C Compiler).

Still in daily use, too. As well as Emacs (no VI flaming necessary, thanks).