The history of programming

The history of programming

1946

Konrad Zues, a German engineer, develops the worlds first programming language Plankalkül, while hiding in the Bavarian alps waiting for the war to end.
He uses it, amongst other thing as a chessopponent on his Z3 computer.
The language has even tables and data structures.
Plankalkül is however buried in some German archive.

1949

The first commonly used programming language, Short Code, is developed. It is to be compiled to machinecode by hand. Despite the name, the nights tended to grow long using this method.

1951

Grace Hopper begins developing the A-O-compiler, which is also known as AT-3.

1952

Alick Glennie, develops, on the side of his studies, the AutoCode-compiler, which compiles symbolic assembler language on a Manchester Mark I computer.

1954

IBM begins the development of FORTRAN based on A-O.

1957

A-O is published with the name Math-Matic, and becomes the first commonly known programming language.
FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslator) is published. The roots of this language is still used with mathematic expressions. To the languages good parts belongs its easy Input and output functions as well as its short and elegant code.
FORTRAN becomes the first commercial high level programminglanguage. The leader of the developmentgroup, John Backus participates later in the development of ALGOL and BNF.

1958

FORTRAN II is presented. To its new features belongs subprograms and linking to machinecode functions.
John McCarthy begins developing LISP (LISt Processing, or in a meaner way, Lots of Irritating Superfluous Parentheses :-) ). This language is, thanks to its features, the base for artificial-intelligence applications. It's used, amongst other, in the game Abuse, which levels and functions is determined by LISP-code, that is compiled when starting the game.
The basic definition of ALGOL is published. It isn't though, any Users manual, instead it deals only with the theoretical part. ALGOL58 is also known by the name IAL (International Algebraic Language).

1959

COBOL (COmmon Business Oriented Language) is created at the Data Systems and Languages -conferance (CODASYL).
COBOL is a commercial institutional language, which is still used in many companies. The language is ment for computing large amounts of data, but it fits also for many other purposes.
Hackers appreciates COBOL even less than BASIC due to its very long-drawn and verbose sourcecode. It's said to include both the program itself and the documentation.
LISP 1.5 is published.

1960

ALGOL 60, the first segmentbuilt language, is published.
The different versions of Pascal and C is later developed based on this program.
ALGOL becomes the most popular programminglanguage in Europe, in the late 60's.

1961

Keneth Iversson develops APL (A Programming Language), which uses special characters and demands APL-compatible peripheral devices, to function correctly. The language includes many special solutions and interactions, but many other functions are absent. APL is especially suited for mathematic applications.

1962

FORTRAN IV is published and the documentation of APL is shown in Iverssons book, A Programming Language.
SNOBOL, (StriNg Oriented symBOlic Language), a language with the probably most twisted shortenings, is developed in Bells laboratories.
In 1971, the compilers FASBOL and SPITBOL (SPeedy ImplementTation of snoBOL) is developed, based on SNOBOL. The language is used for handling text and formulas.

1963

A new version of ALGOL 60 is published.
Development of the PL/I-language begins at IBM. It is tried to include the best parts of ALGOL 60, FORTRAN and COBOL to this language.

1964

APL/360, the first real application for APL, is taken to use.
John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz invents BASIC (Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) and its compiler. The first BASIC program is ran at 4 a.m. 1:st of May, 1964.
PL/I is published. The language is still used widely at IBM. The same company publishes also the RPG-language (Report Program Generator), which is specialized in making commercial reports.
The II and III versions are published in the 70's.

1965

SNOBOL3 is published and within the next year, the compiler DEC -- for PDP-6 and PDP-10 computers-- is developed.

1966

FORTRAN66 is published. It is rarely used because newer standars has replaced FORTRAN66.
LISP2 is also published.
For its slow graphics known, LOGO-language, begins developing. LOGO can be compared with LISP, but its rather directed to kids and beginners.

1967

SNOBOLs far developed and special version SNOBOL4 is published. The language is used i.g. for analysing and high level language compiling.
Simula is created, in Oslo, Norway. This language is based on ALGOL60, and expanded with classes. Simula, which was originally developed for simulations, but later became an allround language, included allready every object-programming centered lineaments.

1968

Niklaus Wirth begins developing Pascal, which is still used for educational puposes. Pascal got its name from a french philosoph and mathematichan in the 17:th century, Blaise Pascal.
ALGOL 68 is published. Some members of the standardization committee, objects to approving this language, because ALGOL 68 is shown to be a heavy, troublesome to use and extremely complex.
COBOL gets its ANSI.determinations seven years after its publishing.
Bells FORTRAN clone, ALTRAN, is published.

1969

500 people participates in teh APL-conference in IBMs headquarters in New York. The requests for APL is way above the expectations.
BCPL (Basic CPL) is developed in England. This language is based on CPL (Combined Programming Language) and accumulates later the B- and C-languages. BCPL is a low-level typeless language which includes only simple datatypes.

1970

Charles Moore begins, early this decade, making the first significant program amongst his other creations, Forth. For example Kitt Peaks telescope is controlled by a Forth program. According to Moore, Forth is the fourth generation's language, but his computer's operating system understands only five character long filenames, thats how Fourth becam Forth. Remember this when you're curse the 8+3 character system in DOS!
The development of the PROLOG (PROgramming LOGic) language begins in France.PROLGO becomes the first logics-programming and artificial intelligence language. It is based on the SLD-theorema and has accumulated many different relative languages for different purposes.
In Xerox PARC begins the development of Smalltalk. Smalltalk is a clean objectoriented language, that is based completely on objects. In the next few years Smalltalk-72, Smalltalk-74 and Smalltalk-76 versions are developed. The last one with inspiration from Simula.
The Pascal program appears for the CDC-6000 series computers. SNOBOLs follow up, Icon, is published. The B-language is developed for the PDP-11 machine for Unix. This language is based on BCPL.

1972

Dennis Ritchie creates the C-language. This language is based on the B-language, and is named C to honor the BCPL language. For a while this language's name was NB. The C-compiler is included in the Unix operatingsystem and its use increases explosively, outside Bell. To C's strong parts belongs simplicity, efficiency and flexibility. Moving C to other operating systems is easier than most of other languages. Acording to some, C combines both the elegance and efficiency of machine language and the high-level language readability and maintenance.
The first real application for PROLOG is taken into use. The documentation for Plankalkül appers, only 26 years late.

1974

COBOL gets its second ANSI-determination.
The documentation for C appears.

1975

Dr Wong develops Tiny BASIC, which takes only
2K of memory and is loaded from a paperstripe.
It can function on almost all of Intels 8080-machines
and Zilogs Z80 machines. In a typical PC there is 4K's of memory, so then 2K's of memory will be free for the program itself. Tiny BASIC is the first known freeware program. The textstrings "All Wrongs Reserved" and "Copyleft" was found in this program.
Bill Gates and Paul Allen writes a version of BASIC which they sell to MITS. MITS produces 8080-based Altair-microcomputers.
Scheme, a derivation from LISP, is published.
The still used Pascal-tutor, Pascal User Manual and Report (Jensen, Wirth), is published.
Brian Kernigan describes RATFOR (RATional FORtran), which is used as a precompiler for FORTRAN and handles flowcontrol commands of C-type. Theses days RATFOR is replaced by other solutions.

1976

Design System Language, forerunner to PostScript appears. This language is interpreted like Forth, that is used for handling threee dimensional databases.

1977

MUMPS (Massachusets general hospital Utility Multi-Programming System) get its ANSI-standard. MUMPS was originally used for saving patient information and the language understands only text variables. The language is later renamed to M and is still used widely in companies, in which many users accesses the information simultaneously, like in Banks, stock markets and travelling agencys.
Honeywell's contest for planning programminglanguages begins. Jean Ichbiahn's team wins with their Ada language.
Kim Harris and his partners establish FIG, FORTRAN Interest Group. They develop the FIG-FORTRAN language and sell it for $20
Kenneth Bowles publish USCD Pascal, which works on PDP-11 and Z80 machines. Niklaus Wirth begins developing Pascal's follower Modula (MODUlar LAnguage). Modula is a strongly segement built language, that fits with parallell running.

To be continued...

1946	Konrad Zues, a German engineer, develops the worlds first programming language Plankalkül, while hiding in the Bavarian alps waiting for the war to end. He uses it, amongst other thing as a chessopponent on his Z3 computer. The language has even tables and data structures. Plankalkül is however buried in some German archive.
1949	The first commonly used programming language, Short Code, is developed. It is to be compiled to machinecode by hand. Despite the name, the nights tended to grow long using this method.
1951	Grace Hopper begins developing the A-O-compiler, which is also known as AT-3.
1952	Alick Glennie, develops, on the side of his studies, the AutoCode-compiler, which compiles symbolic assembler language on a Manchester Mark I computer.
1954	IBM begins the development of FORTRAN based on A-O.
1957	A-O is published with the name Math-Matic, and becomes the first commonly known programming language. FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslator) is published. The roots of this language is still used with mathematic expressions. To the languages good parts belongs its easy Input and output functions as well as its short and elegant code. FORTRAN becomes the first commercial high level programminglanguage. The leader of the developmentgroup, John Backus participates later in the development of ALGOL and BNF.
1958	FORTRAN II is presented. To its new features belongs subprograms and linking to machinecode functions. John McCarthy begins developing LISP (LISt Processing, or in a meaner way, Lots of Irritating Superfluous Parentheses :-) ). This language is, thanks to its features, the base for artificial-intelligence applications. It's used, amongst other, in the game Abuse, which levels and functions is determined by LISP-code, that is compiled when starting the game. The basic definition of ALGOL is published. It isn't though, any Users manual, instead it deals only with the theoretical part. ALGOL58 is also known by the name IAL (International Algebraic Language).
1959	COBOL (COmmon Business Oriented Language) is created at the Data Systems and Languages -conferance (CODASYL). COBOL is a commercial institutional language, which is still used in many companies. The language is ment for computing large amounts of data, but it fits also for many other purposes. Hackers appreciates COBOL even less than BASIC due to its very long-drawn and verbose sourcecode. It's said to include both the program itself and the documentation. LISP 1.5 is published.
1960	ALGOL 60, the first segmentbuilt language, is published. The different versions of Pascal and C is later developed based on this program. ALGOL becomes the most popular programminglanguage in Europe, in the late 60's.
1961	Keneth Iversson develops APL (A Programming Language), which uses special characters and demands APL-compatible peripheral devices, to function correctly. The language includes many special solutions and interactions, but many other functions are absent. APL is especially suited for mathematic applications.
1962	FORTRAN IV is published and the documentation of APL is shown in Iverssons book, A Programming Language. SNOBOL, (StriNg Oriented symBOlic Language), a language with the probably most twisted shortenings, is developed in Bells laboratories. In 1971, the compilers FASBOL and SPITBOL (SPeedy ImplementTation of snoBOL) is developed, based on SNOBOL. The language is used for handling text and formulas.
1963	A new version of ALGOL 60 is published. Development of the PL/I-language begins at IBM. It is tried to include the best parts of ALGOL 60, FORTRAN and COBOL to this language.
1964	APL/360, the first real application for APL, is taken to use. John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz invents BASIC (Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) and its compiler. The first BASIC program is ran at 4 a.m. 1:st of May, 1964. PL/I is published. The language is still used widely at IBM. The same company publishes also the RPG-language (Report Program Generator), which is specialized in making commercial reports. The II and III versions are published in the 70's.
1965	SNOBOL3 is published and within the next year, the compiler DEC -- for PDP-6 and PDP-10 computers-- is developed.
1966	FORTRAN66 is published. It is rarely used because newer standars has replaced FORTRAN66. LISP2 is also published. For its slow graphics known, LOGO-language, begins developing. LOGO can be compared with LISP, but its rather directed to kids and beginners.
1967	SNOBOLs far developed and special version SNOBOL4 is published. The language is used i.g. for analysing and high level language compiling. Simula is created, in Oslo, Norway. This language is based on ALGOL60, and expanded with classes. Simula, which was originally developed for simulations, but later became an allround language, included allready every object-programming centered lineaments.
1968	Niklaus Wirth begins developing Pascal, which is still used for educational puposes. Pascal got its name from a french philosoph and mathematichan in the 17:th century, Blaise Pascal. ALGOL 68 is published. Some members of the standardization committee, objects to approving this language, because ALGOL 68 is shown to be a heavy, troublesome to use and extremely complex. COBOL gets its ANSI.determinations seven years after its publishing. Bells FORTRAN clone, ALTRAN, is published.
1969	500 people participates in teh APL-conference in IBMs headquarters in New York. The requests for APL is way above the expectations. BCPL (Basic CPL) is developed in England. This language is based on CPL (Combined Programming Language) and accumulates later the B- and C-languages. BCPL is a low-level typeless language which includes only simple datatypes.
1970	Charles Moore begins, early this decade, making the first significant program amongst his other creations, Forth. For example Kitt Peaks telescope is controlled by a Forth program. According to Moore, Forth is the fourth generation's language, but his computer's operating system understands only five character long filenames, thats how Fourth becam Forth. Remember this when you're curse the 8+3 character system in DOS! The development of the PROLOG (PROgramming LOGic) language begins in France.PROLGO becomes the first logics-programming and artificial intelligence language. It is based on the SLD-theorema and has accumulated many different relative languages for different purposes. In Xerox PARC begins the development of Smalltalk. Smalltalk is a clean objectoriented language, that is based completely on objects. In the next few years Smalltalk-72, Smalltalk-74 and Smalltalk-76 versions are developed. The last one with inspiration from Simula. The Pascal program appears for the CDC-6000 series computers. SNOBOLs follow up, Icon, is published. The B-language is developed for the PDP-11 machine for Unix. This language is based on BCPL.
1972	Dennis Ritchie creates the C-language. This language is based on the B-language, and is named C to honor the BCPL language. For a while this language's name was NB. The C-compiler is included in the Unix operatingsystem and its use increases explosively, outside Bell. To C's strong parts belongs simplicity, efficiency and flexibility. Moving C to other operating systems is easier than most of other languages. Acording to some, C combines both the elegance and efficiency of machine language and the high-level language readability and maintenance. The first real application for PROLOG is taken into use. The documentation for Plankalkül appers, only 26 years late.
1974	COBOL gets its second ANSI-determination. The documentation for C appears.
1975	Dr Wong develops Tiny BASIC, which takes only 2K of memory and is loaded from a paperstripe. It can function on almost all of Intels 8080-machines and Zilogs Z80 machines. In a typical PC there is 4K's of memory, so then 2K's of memory will be free for the program itself. Tiny BASIC is the first known freeware program. The textstrings "All Wrongs Reserved" and "Copyleft" was found in this program. Bill Gates and Paul Allen writes a version of BASIC which they sell to MITS. MITS produces 8080-based Altair-microcomputers. Scheme, a derivation from LISP, is published. The still used Pascal-tutor, Pascal User Manual and Report (Jensen, Wirth), is published. Brian Kernigan describes RATFOR (RATional FORtran), which is used as a precompiler for FORTRAN and handles flowcontrol commands of C-type. Theses days RATFOR is replaced by other solutions.
1976	Design System Language, forerunner to PostScript appears. This language is interpreted like Forth, that is used for handling threee dimensional databases.
1977	MUMPS (Massachusets general hospital Utility Multi-Programming System) get its ANSI-standard. MUMPS was originally used for saving patient information and the language understands only text variables. The language is later renamed to M and is still used widely in companies, in which many users accesses the information simultaneously, like in Banks, stock markets and travelling agencys. Honeywell's contest for planning programminglanguages begins. Jean Ichbiahn's team wins with their Ada language. Kim Harris and his partners establish FIG, FORTRAN Interest Group. They develop the FIG-FORTRAN language and sell it for $20 Kenneth Bowles publish USCD Pascal, which works on PDP-11 and Z80 machines. Niklaus Wirth begins developing Pascal's follower Modula (MODUlar LAnguage). Modula is a strongly segement built language, that fits with parallell running.