Duplicate:
Edit by ldigas: Actually, no. I'm not interested in legacy code which still runs somewhere or has to be maintained. I'm interested in what's the oldest piece of code which unchanged is still usable today (with today's compilers, interpreters)? Difference:
- Legacy code: It still runs, it works, but you don't put it in new code. Instead, you rewrite old algorithms in a new way (language standards change - take python for example) so generally, you "rewrite the same thing"
What I'm interested in is what's the oldest code that would still work in your new code (while writing a new app, while being unchanged)?
You can take it as a language backward compatibility test/operating system requirement test.
For example, do you have some code written 20 years ago (C for example) which you can just copy paste in your new visual C++ environment, and it will work without modifications?
I know its a little foggy question. But it can be answered very clearly if understood correctly.
Depending on the language you use, how old are some parts of code still in use ?
Let me explain what I'm interested in (this may be somewhat offtopical, may even be answered somewhere in here but I haven't been able to find it ...) ... for example, I'm a fortran/a little c/python for good measure programmer. We create new code in our everyday work (engineering, cfd ...) but often we use code that hasn't been changed (not rewritten, but literally not changed in our case) for 30-40 years (we're not sure :), and it works fine. Somebody will certanly renew it someday but for now it works just nice.
This is obviously dependent on the language / backward compatibility issues / operating system requirements and changes, and a lot of other factors, but I was wondering what's the approximate age of the oldest parts of code you still use today? This question I guess can also be asked in the form "how often do I have to rewrite the same stuff?"
I guess it will be a little more for older static languages, and a little less for dynamic languages (which are also often used on a one-time basis).