Are Old Programming Textbooks Still Useful?

It really depends on the content. Classic titles like 'The C Programming Language' by Kernighan and Ritchie, for example, are still widely regarded as useful. But many books from the 90s or earlier that focus on outdated technologies or specific versions of languages have little practical value today. If you can find a digital version available for free, that might justify removing the physical copy.

I think it’s worthwhile to keep books that explore theoretical aspects of computer science. Concepts from these books are relatively stable over time. However, feel free to discard those that are clearly tied to obsolete technologies, like 'Turbo C' or Java books from the early 2000s. Those will likely only be useful for historical reference.

I’d suggest keeping anything that discusses enduring topics like software development principles or design patterns. Technical references can be useful, but if they only focus on old languages or tools, they might not be worth keeping. Many people now prefer finding information online, so check if any of these books have been checked out in the past decade. If not, it might be time to let them go.

In general, most programming books age quite quickly. The exceptions tend to be those that cover fundamental concepts, such as algorithms and data structures, which remain relevant regardless of language changes. Books that teach a specific language or version often lose their value fast, so you should really evaluate each book on a case-by-case basis.

Consider reaching out to places like computing history museums if the books have historical significance. Even if they’re not practical for current studies, they might be of interest to researchers.