Post #2188304

2025-12-20 13:06 UTC

@joomy@functional.cafe I once read a story about the people writing the software for the NASA Apollo missions. There was a functionary in charge of weight accounting, who came to them and asked how much the software would weigh. They told him it weighted nothing, but the functionary had heard *that* one before and insisted—everything had to be accounted down to the last ounce. He demanded to see it. They showed him a stack of punched cards, and he was triumphant. “You see,” he said smugly, “it doesn't weigh only ‘nothing’!” “No, you misunderstand,” they replied. “The cards aren't going on the spacecraft. Only the holes.”

Replies (5)

@adipoeserPursch@troet.cafe 2025-12-20 20:05

@mjd@mathstodon.xyz @joomy@functional.cafe That person surely was a woman. Because the Apollo missions were programmed by women. 💪🏾

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@jade@apobangpo.space 2025-12-20 21:46

@mjd@mathstodon.xyz @joomy@functional.cafe I understand this person. They must have been burned before by colleagues not putting something on the list because they assumed that thing is accounted for by the machine it is attached to or something.

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@onekind@beige.party 2025-12-20 22:14

@mjd@mathstodon.xyz Mark, the Apollo Guidance Computer software was stored in core rope memory so I can assure you it was heavy and the weight was not an afterthought.

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@ErrolNZ@mastodon.nz 2025-12-20 22:16

@mjd@mathstodon.xyz @joomy@functional.cafe I was told that story in my intro to information systems paper at uni in 198-mumble.

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@elfi@social.pixie.town 2025-12-21 15:32

@mjd@mathstodon.xyz @joomy@functional.cafe Lovely folks, snappy wit

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