FORTRAN programming language

What it is

Language that lets formulas be written almost as on paper, together with a compiler that generates efficient code. It proved that high-level languages were viable and is still used in scientific computing.

What it led to

• Scientific programming and numerical simulation
• Compiler theory and every language that followed
• The separation of the programmer from specific hardware

Built on

• Turing machine, halting problem and Church-Turing thesis1936
• Stored-program (von Neumann) architecture1945
• Assembly language and subroutines1949
• Grace Hopper's A-0 compiler
• IBM 704

Made possible

• LISP programming language1958
• COBOL programming language1959
• BASIC programming language1964
• Computer algebra systems (Macsyma, Mathematica)1968-1988
• ALGOL
• climate models

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