Back in the early 1990s we wrote some software in Borland C++ to run under Windows 95 on an industrial PC to do some measurements and transfer data via an RS232 link and installed these boxes at various transformer stations at a utility. We've managed to "update" the setup to run under Windows XP but the utility didn't want too many changes for new installations so it was still compiled under a late 1990s version of the Borland C++. It is fortunate that we also bought the source code for the Borland RS232 driver as that company went out of business long ago. National Instruments provides "legacy" drivers for their A/D cards so we can still purchase those, too. Now that all of us have retired or left the company I guess the whole system is now legacy though these installation are still operating as far as I know.

Though I remember the parts of the software I wrote fairly well it takes quite an effort to build, install and test its operation using the legacy compiler and drivers.

Do these young'uns even know what rot13 is?

Hey does /. have a +1 for comments?

I thought this was The Onion.

Reminds me of our first networked HP printer bought back in the 20th century. I wanted to change a couple of settings so I downloaded some software from the HP site. When I ran it I found that it discovered all the HP printers in the building and asked me if I wanted to update everyone's firmware (among other things). Those were the days. :-)