[asgerhb]

I know sarcasm is frowned upon on HN but I am compelled to point out that in the 1830s there were also a lot of people who couldn't write fizzbuzz. If you cherry-pick random people today and compare them to historical figures, of course it will seem like things were better in the old days.

[tragomaskhalos]

OK I'm now imagining a 19th century job interview when the candidate is given three weeks to 'devise and construct a steam-powered apparatus capable of emulating the popular parlour game based on multiples of 3 and 5'. I'm sure modern steampunk enthusiasts can be nerd-sniped into having a go !

[seabass-labrax]

Connect to the main shaft a basic steam engine and two independent cogs of ratios of three and five. Then attach a cam to the side of each cog and have it press down on a stamper for output. Sounds easier than JavaScript!