I have lived that exact scenario, mostly. My first year in Afghanistan I was frequently traveling, and mostly had no internet access. It was the year I taught myself to write original software applications in JavaScript on a small netbook. I built out the earliest versions of this once popular diff tool.
1 programming language = C (with some mandatory assembly)
Also, apparently I can download many books onto the laptop, so we need to clarify that, too. If we can download some books, then:
2-3 books about the Linux kernel (e.g. LDD3), the manual of GDB (I actually purchased a paper one), a manual about QEMU perhaps (not sure if they have one), and a couple of books about C programming.
I wish I could do something like this in real life, and getting paid somewhat :)
Probably any old language. Python? And a book related to games programming as I would want to play the games as an alternative source of entertainment.
For programming language I choose C++, as an excuse to bring some 800+ page C++ book. The brick of a book can be used as a bludgeoning weapon when hunting for food & the pages can be torn off to help start fires.
A book on 'How to Build a Raft' and 12 months to build one seems doable. All I need is a little javascript and a few games to play on the laptop to pass the down time and I'd survive.
1 PC = My T470S laptop upgraded to 24GB of RAM;
1 book = OSTEP
1 programming language = C (with some mandatory assembly)
Also, apparently I can download many books onto the laptop, so we need to clarify that, too. If we can download some books, then:
2-3 books about the Linux kernel (e.g. LDD3), the manual of GDB (I actually purchased a paper one), a manual about QEMU perhaps (not sure if they have one), and a couple of books about C programming.
I wish I could do something like this in real life, and getting paid somewhat :)
And if there were expectations on how you spent that time, why would they equip you worse than if you went to Antarctica or Mars?