then you probably only need a 486 or so? programs can manipulate text quite effectively using ancient cpus.
Clearly you have never used TypeScript, created a few packages, and bundled them.
Sounds like better tools are in order. Golang produces results instantaneously for example.
Almost no present software will run acceptably on a 486 since machines orders of magnitude faster are available at walmart for $300 the question of what software would is mostly academic.
In 1999 we were 'upgrading' to Evergreen 586s in K12 for a lucky few boys and girls. Good times and a lot of nothing going on. PIO4 and PATA with PCI buses clocked at 33 MHZ.
Can you imagine really trying to run 20+ year old tech in
developer space? 8 - 10 MB/s throughput and 70 bogomips?