Re:They don't make 'em like that any more: Borland Turbo Pas...
by Photogrammaton on Sunday November 08, 2026 @11:07AM
(#50414421)
Turbo Pascal and a database add-on were part of an 80s-era text-analysis-and-generation program that was devised by lit professor Hugh Kenner and CS professor Joseph O’Rourke. I implemented that, on a single-board-computer running a CP/M derivative called (IIRC) Z-System, and I had a great deal of fun playing with it.
Some years later, I worked it into a commentary on generative AI that I wrote for Fast Company. My article mentions James Joyce, because the original BYTE article did. My piece omitted to add that my experiments also included mixing Henry James with a spot of Victorian porn.
I enjoyed being reminded of all of that by the Turbo Pascal piece.
Some years later, I worked it into a commentary on generative AI that I wrote for Fast Company. My article mentions James Joyce, because the original BYTE article did. My piece omitted to add that my experiments also included mixing Henry James with a spot of Victorian porn.
I enjoyed being reminded of all of that by the Turbo Pascal piece.
Fast Company piece (from September 2022, before the release of ChatGPT): https://www.fastcompany.com/90784449/machine-writing-is-beco...