From the GDR to the digital revolution: a programmer remembers!

From the GDR to the digital revolution: a programmer remembers!

Gotha, Deutschland - A fascinating review of the programming art of the GDR! At the weekend I experienced a warm family conversation and an revealing phone call with my grandson that led us into the past. Memories of my life in the GDR came to life, and I couldn't help but look back!

The work was my elixir! After my studies, I entered Gotha's "air technology", where I was offered an apartment for my small family. During my school days I had already done my skilled worker in the Jena "Carl Zeiss" data center, and so my exciting adventure began in the EDP of the Gotha company. I passionately plunged into the programming of the new calculation system and the goal of not only doing operational tasks, but also developing programs that could be used universally!

The birth of it!

with a revolutionary sorting program I put the competition in the shade. It was not only company -neutral, but could also be sold several times! My passion for the programming led to the creation of three decisive "pillars": the data input test program "Depp", a printing program for evaluations and a magnetic tape routine. These programs made it easy to implement operational tasks in terms of calculation.

But the best came! The name was chosen: because for data and for Zerbst, Uwe. "In addition", all aspects of data input, testing and preparation as well as the printing of the evaluations combined. When an employee asked if it could also be calculated, my ambition increased and I integrated this function. This is how a program was created that could be used universally!