In those days [batch processing] programmers never even…
![“In those days [batch processing] programmers never even documented their programs, because it was assumed that nobody else would ever use them. Now, however, time-sharing had made exchanging software trivial: you just stored one copy in the public repository and therby effectively gave it to the…” quote by Robert Fano](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/3f2/robert-fano-273434_computer-language_in-those-days-batch-processing-programme_563259.jpg)
“In those days [batch processing] programmers never even documented their programs, because it was assumed that nobody else would ever use them. Now, however, time-sharing had made exchanging software trivial: you just stored one copy in the public repository and therby effectively gave it to the world. Immediately people began to document their programs and to think of them as being usable by others. They started to build on each other's work.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Early programmers documented code as sharing became easy, fostering collaboration and collective progress.
In simple terms: Sharing code led to documentation and teamwork.
Key Takeaway
Document and share work openly.
Themes
collaboration
documentation
software sharing
open source
learning
Mood
pragmatic
optimistic
Type
technical
historical
When to use this quote
- software development
- education
- open‑source projects
Key Concepts
knowledge transfer
community building
technical standards
Questions to Reflect On
- How does open documentation affect innovation?
- What challenges arise from shared codebases?
A Different Perspective
Not all sharing ensures quality.