mynjin

It's discouraging that it seems that in order to write software I'm expected to have constant and fast internet access to Stack Overflow or whatever search site to find answers or download crazy large toolchains.

How did people program working solutions before instant online answers and is it even possible to hole up in a completely distraction free, out of the way locale for that next great side project?

I'm jealous of the idea of the novelist holing up in a spartan cabin with just an idea and a typewriter. Maybe a dictionary, maybe some prepared research notes; but completely cut off and only running off meager brought materials.

So how would a programmer prepare enough to code up their idea without internet access? What documentation, books, or materials would one bring? Are these materials general, like journal articles about algorithms and CS? Or very specific to the OS, framework, standard library, etc? Are there first principles at each abstraction layer from bare metal, OS, user space, and application level that allows cobbling software solutions without external resources?