Stone Age




<jargon> In computer folklore, an ill-defined period from ENIAC (ca. 1943) to the mid-1950s; the great age of electromechanical dinosaurs.

Sometimes used for the entire period up to 1960-61 (see Iron Age); however, it is more descriptive to characterise the latter period in terms of a "Bronze Age" era of transistor-logic, pre-ferrite core memory machines with drum or CRT mass storage (as opposed to just mercury delay lines and/or relays).

More generally, the term is used pejoratively for ancient hardware or software, even by survivors from the Stone Age.

[Jargon File]



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stochastic
stock-keeping unit
STOIC
stomp on
STONE
Iron Age
mainframe
punched card
Stone Age
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf
stone knives and bearskins
Stoneman
stop bit
stoppage
storage