Key Takeaway
Do you currently work with or know anyone who is still using:* dBase/Clipper/CLARION/Paradox/other DOS RAD environments on period hardware to run business processes? * CNC mills/spectrometers/microscopes/other industrial instruments controlled by ISA cards (either bespoke or standards like GPIB)?
Published September 25, 2026 · Category: Tech
Overview
Do you currently work with or know anyone who is still using:
* dBase/Clipper/CLARION/Paradox/other DOS RAD environments on period hardware to run business processes?
* CNC mills/spectrometers/microscopes/other industrial instruments controlled by ISA cards (either bespoke or standards like GPIB)?
* Anything with a parallel port dongle?
If so, I'd be very interested in hearing your experience here, or feel free to send me an email at the address in my profile. I'm not trying to sell anything, just doing some research for an idea around keeping these going on modern hardware.
Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49848955
Points: 203
Details
# Comments: 207
Source
Originally published at news.ycombinator.com.
Related Articles
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "Ask HN: Who's still keeping a DOS machine up because the business depends on it?" about?+
Do you currently work with or know anyone who is still using:* dBase/Clipper/CLARION/Paradox/other DOS RAD environments on period hardware to run business processes?* CNC mills/spectrometers/microscopes/other industrial instruments controlled by ISA cards (either bespoke or standards like GPIB)?* Anything with a parallel port dongle?If so, I'd be very interested in hearing your experience here, or feel free to send me an email at the address in my profile. I'm not trying to sell anything, just d
Who reported this story?+
This story was reported by Hacker News Best.