[kadoban]

> Am I wrong or was programming just way cooler back then?

You're wrong, to be blunt.

Sure there's some interesting challenges to solve around keeping memory usage low, but mostly it was just tedious and limiting.

Programming has enough challenges and interesting optimizations without worrying as much as one used to have to about memory.

[lwhi]

I disagree. I think constraints (such as memory availablity) are a useful device to encourage creativity.

[kadoban]

There's still easily enough constraints to be had to make programming interesting.

[lwhi]

True, but I think constraints are essential for creativity.

Whether it's artistic or scientific .. maybe it can feel a bit academic when we have so much memory and processing power available, but I personally think it really makes a difference.