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Ask HN: Oldest code you have written that is still in use?

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Re: Ask HN: Oldest code you have written that is still in use?

#91

Post by feelix »

I wrote a data recovery POSIX compliant command line app in C in 2003 that runs under OS X, Windows, and linux. It's still selling well, and has been all these years. Over time it's generated millions in revenue as it's been used by several different competing apps, and I have only recompiled it about twice in the last 15 years, each time only making a (very) minor change. It went a good decade without a recompile and continued selling well and being widely used.

The reason I'm happy to say this publicly is because

a) it took years to write, full time. Data recovery is a hell of a lot more complex then I'd ever imagined.

b) data recovery is no longer possible on SSD's (if they have TRIM enabled, as they do in all major OS's) so it's a declining market. Anyone would be nuts to be trying to enter it at this point.

Re: Ask HN: Oldest code you have written that is still in use?

#92

Post by AndyKelley »

recurser wrote: post #53

The web UI for the Transmission bittorrent client, around 2006-ish. I wrote it in prototype.js and then discovered jQuery, and ended up rewriting the whole thing. https://www.transmissionbt.com/

Oh cool! I still use your work regularly. It works well. My only complaint is that the enter key doesn't submit the import by URL box.

Re: Ask HN: Oldest code you have written that is still in use?

#93

Post by aaronbrethorst »

Occasionally, users of a piece of $10 shareware I haven't updated since 2005 email me demanding a refund because this software they bought 10+ years ago has stopped working on El Capitan. I refund their money because it's not even worth my time to argue with them.

http://www.chimpsoftware.com/irooster/

Re: Ask HN: Oldest code you have written that is still in use?

#95

Post by mvgoogler »

In the early '90s I wrote the embedded software for the first versions of these hand-held color measurement instruments: https://www.byk.com/en/instruments/products/color-measuremen...

From what I can see of the screen shots it looks like at least the core of that software is still in use.

Re: Ask HN: Oldest code you have written that is still in use?

#96

Post by btgeekboy »

zer00eyz wrote: post #71

I was but a teen age boy in 1992. I built a file maker database, for a school system. They have tried to retire it twice. Both projects failed miserably. For the last 10 years it has been maintained by the same office admin. She still calls me every now and again to ask questions.

When I left my former employer in 2014, they were still attempting to get their invoices off a FileMaker database and into Quicken or something of the sort. That particular database was in service when I started 10 years prior, running in FileMaker 3 on a Mac clone. It's been upgraded over the years, and was running in a Windows VM when I left - but it's likely still there.

Re: Ask HN: Oldest code you have written that is still in use?

#97

Post by trymas »

aaronbrethorst wrote: post #93

Occasionally, users of a piece of $10 shareware I haven't updated since 2005 email me demanding a refund because this software they bought 10+ years ago has stopped working on El Capitan. I refund their money because it's not even worth my time to argue with them. http://www.chimpsoftware.com/irooster/

Wow, do they have any legal leverage (as in, sue you for 10$) to get their money back in this situation?

I would just ignore them, or if point to the relevant point of license agreement and/or law (if there is such point/law).

Re: Ask HN: Oldest code you have written that is still in use?

#98

Post by janzer »

zippergz wrote: post #83
fdavison wrote: post #73

Late 70's. I wrote the operating system for the Control Pak EM system sold as the Barber Colman Network Supervisor building automation system. Thousands of systems were installed and many are still in use. By cracky. Er, what was the question again? http://www.controlpak.com/network.htm

That link doesn't work for me. I'd love to read more about this system. Are there any other links you know of?

Fortunately archive.org has it https://web.archive.org/web/20150814041918/http://controlpak...

Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much detail. :(

Re: Ask HN: Oldest code you have written that is still in use?

#100

Post by mistermann »

feelix wrote: post #91

I wrote a data recovery POSIX compliant command line app in C in 2003 that runs under OS X, Windows, and linux. It's still selling well, and has been all these years. Over time it's generated millions in revenue as it's been used by several different competing apps, and I have only recompiled it about twice in the last 15 years, each time only making a (very) minor change. It went a good decade without a recompile an…

This is great, I hope you retained 100% rights and are the one raking in that $?

Considering the rise of SSD's, what's your prediction of how quickly your revenue will decline?

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