Sure. No one ever in this entire world ever did a int(“0200”), because it is insane to represent numbers as actual numbers. I am so glad that military invented a standard working with any algorithm.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I mean, I hear you, but to be fair, I think the military has been using that kind of a timing convention since before computing even really existed.

... We did more or less invent modern computers, initially, to compute artillery ranging tables.

I'm pretty sure that predates even the concept of ... a string vs int data type.

[–] frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Depends on what you call a "computer". The first electronic calculating machine sold by the company now known as IBM was for the census, and it was prior to WWI.

Edit: we need to fight back on this idea that the military drives technological innovation. That's only true because of the shitty values our society has.