Programming

In an alternate history, programming did not develop along the same lines as it did in reality. Instead, early programming languages were designed not for general-purpose computation but for specific applications like cryptography, logistics and engineering calculations.

Throughout the 20th century, programming became closely associated with military and defense applications. Cold War paranoia drove significant investment in advanced technology, including custom programming languages for controlling specific equipment like radar systems and industrial machinery.

The transistor and microprocessor revolution made it possible to build more compact and dedicated hardware for programming applications. These so-called "micro-programmable" devices proved invaluable for controlling machinery and robotics, leading to widespread automation in industry.

However, the personal computer revolution of the 1980s looks significantly different in this alternate history. While Apple still exists, the commoditization of computing is less pronounced because of the association with specialized, proprietary hardware such as embedded devices and robotics. As a result, computers are less common in everyday life than in our own reality.

Programming remains a specialized skill performed mostly by engineers for industrial, research and defense applications. The software industry is dominated by contracts with governments and defense agencies, rather than creative computing or mass-market applications.

The impact of programming on society looks significantly different in this alternate timeline: there is less visible influence in the arts, creativity and social communication - those areas where software has had a transformative impact in our own history. However, programming has allowed for significant advances in automation, engineering and efficiency that have driven economic growth and social change.

Programming in this alternate history is a crucial and sophisticated skill, but its impacts remain tucked away in specialized industrial and military contexts rather than shaping the broader, open culture of the late-20th and 21st century.