The Use of Sub-Routines in Programmes (1951) [pdf]

More readable: https://gist.github.com/kimsk/a8dc99eb9dd491152bcc9f4a58a33d...

This is by the D.J. Wheeler (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wheeler_(computer_scient...) of the Burrows–Wheeler transform (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrows–Wheeler_transform).

With the exception of the part about storage consideration (paper tape vs. internal storage), everything else still holds to this day.

Sure. I enjoyed even more when I discovered that the parallel adder, an important part of every CPU, also patented by IBM around 1960 was developed and implemented using the mechanical parts by Charles Babbage at least 120 year before (around 1840) and everybody can enjoy its 3D animated reconstruction today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2EDE8Srdcw

So even the discoveries from 1840 still hold: without the parallel carry circuitry, an adder is simply too slow. Babbage was proud of his implementation, but not many were able to understand then what was that about.

I wouldn't be surprised that Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, also already thought about the subroutines in 19th century, when considering the programs for the Babbage's machine.