Funny holidays - Old Programmer's Day

The first computer was invented in 1833 by the English mathematician Charles Babbage. The programs for this mechanical apparatus, which performed simple arithmetic operations, were written by the daughter of the romantic poet Byron Augustus, Ada Liveles. Calculation of logarithms and trigonometric functions was carried out using punched cards. Liveles can safely be considered the first programmer - a representative of a profession that is traditionally considered a male prerogative. Computers appeared in the 40s of the twentieth century thanks to the American John von Neumann. The first models of electronic computers were quite bulky and occupied a separate room of the building. Maintenance of giant computers was carried out by technicians, data entry into the system was carried out by operators, and software was compiled by programmers. It is difficult to imagine the life of a modern person without a PC and other electrode devices. Therefore, IT specialists have their own professional holiday. Its programmers celebrate every 256th day of the year (September 12 or 13), chosen according to the number of different values ​​that can be expressed using an 8-bit byte. Decree No. 1034 on the establishment of the holiday was signed in 2009 by the President of the Russian Federation D. Medvedev. Before this, the date of the celebration was considered the first Friday of September. The initiator of its establishment was Dmitry Mendrelyuk, the owner of the Computerra publishing house, which published a thematic magazine weekly. However, long before this, Soviet specialists involved in computer software and automated systems made April 22 the date of their professional holiday. Today, as with the New Year, which is celebrated in two styles, representatives of the scientific and technical intelligentsia of the Soviet era celebrate 2 celebrations. One of them falls on the 256th day of the year, the second, ironically, on V.I.’s birthday. Lenin. Old Programmer's Day is a solemn date for graduates of technical universities in the 1960s. This period was marked by a real boom in the development of mathematics, physics and cybernetics. Computer maintenance, the launch of the first machine in the USSR was carried out in 1950, was carried out by engineering and technical workers - representatives of the profession that brought humanity closer to a wonderful future. Computers were massively introduced into light, heavy and defense industries. Enthusiasts who wanted to have their own home computer could assemble it according to the instructions that were published in the 1982-83 issues of Radio magazine. The first Small Electronic Calculating Machine occupied an area of ​​60 m2 and used 6 thousand lamps for operation. Its maintenance was carried out by adjusters and programmers who received a specialty at a university or institute with code 2204. It was decided to decipher this digital combination as the 22nd day and 4th month of the year. The date is still considered a professional holiday for all Soviet programmers. Therefore, old school IT specialists traditionally celebrate April 22 as Old Programmer’s Day or, as a joke, Old Programmer’s Day.