Development Lab - Programming subjects & Resources

Although some of the tutorials here are very old they cover the foundation principals that current programs, networks and operating systems are built on. Newer versions of older products add back end services, additional security and user enhancements. The foundation skills still have to be learned and using legacy products is an in-expensive way to pick up skills.

This principle does not apply to older operating systems and internet browsing however. The latest OS and browser versions have very different architectures than pre-2007 OS versions, although the interface principals are similar enough to learn on using an older platform.

Some old file reference sheets are here for comparison, research and historic value while you are developing newer software. And it is interesting to note that really old Win 95 and Win 98 machines are still pretty good at robotics while running Visual Basic or other in-house software. Because the machines run the same routines and are pretty dumb on networks and internet protocols they do quite well at just running programs locally while being completely off of the network, like in a clean room or assembly manufacturing line (The Hubble Space Telescope uses an Intel 486 computer with 2 Mb of memory, rated for space travel.) These machines are generally hidden and out of sight and are unreachable by wire. The larger cases of old machines also can accommodate larger in-house developed (make your own) pci and scsi interface cards for driving pneumatic assemblies and hydraulic motors (in fact, dozens of them!) etc.