[Agatsu77]

I remember FORTRAN and punch cards... I also remember using a slide rule as a college freshman. I appreciate the advancements I have seen and lived through.

[dadfly]

yes indeed, FRiend. ASSEMBLER, FORTRAN, COBOL. punched cards at first but soon we had online compilers and a very new (to me) programming concept, a context free language from Kernigan and Richie at Bell labs and an very flexible set of development tools built around UNIX and C. incredible stuff.

[William Tell]

"... using a slide rule as a college freshman."

I took freshman physics in 1967 using a slide rule and repeated it in the mid 70s using a scientific calculator.

The increase in the scope and complexity of the examinations was truly impressive.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

You sound like you were at college the same years as me fall 1969 - spring 1973.

Started ME school with a cheap metal slipstick. HP35 was introduced in 1972 when I was a Junior or Senior, but who could afford a $400 calculator? That’s $2,915 in 2024 dollars! I remember I bought a cheap Casio calculator a couple years after graduating, then finally an HP 11C and a 12C in the early 80s.

[CardCarryingMember.VastRightWC]

"I remember FORTRAN and punch cards..."

I remember BASIC and paper tape to store my programs on.

FORTRAN and punch cards came much later.

[fella]

My math teachers wouldn’t allow us to use “slip-sticks”. Being slightly dyslexic that murdered my grades.

[PIF]

I also remember using a slide rule
—
I remember building my first computer with blinking lights;
I remember the computer up the road at the Institute that took a whole building;
I remember cranking a phone to get an operator.

[iamgalt]

For sure, a Pickett in your pocket was all you needed

[Wonder Warthog]

"I remember FORTRAN and punch cards... I also remember using a slide rule as a college freshman. I appreciate the advancements I have seen and lived through."

Ditto that. Still have my slide rule...

[guest7]

"...I also remember using a slide rule as a college freshman..."

In the 7th grade, we thought we were "cool with our slip-sticks"...

Then; Russ Dember walked in with this: