Nina Kalinina on Nostr: It is time for me to re-do my old thread about the origins of "80 columns" and how it ...
It is time for me to re-do my old thread about the origins of "80 columns" and how it can very well be related to pretty ancient stuff, not dissimilar to "space shuttle and horse's rear end".
As you know, the default mode on IBM PCs is text 80x25. The limitation of 80 columns per line, also known as "80 column rule" is still widespread; for example, that's the rule for Linux kernel. But why 80? Why not 70 or 90?
The answer to that is usually "IBM punch cards are 80 characters wide", but things are more interesting than that!
First, the commonly accepted column width was supposed to be 72. American typewriters used to have just 72 columns, earlier DEC terminals supported only 72 columns, and even IBM punch cards had only 72 columns for text.
Second, yes, IBM punch cards were 80 characters wide, but why?
As you know, the default mode on IBM PCs is text 80x25. The limitation of 80 columns per line, also known as "80 column rule" is still widespread; for example, that's the rule for Linux kernel. But why 80? Why not 70 or 90?
The answer to that is usually "IBM punch cards are 80 characters wide", but things are more interesting than that!
First, the commonly accepted column width was supposed to be 72. American typewriters used to have just 72 columns, earlier DEC terminals supported only 72 columns, and even IBM punch cards had only 72 columns for text.
Second, yes, IBM punch cards were 80 characters wide, but why?