DocumentCode
994714
Title
The History of FORTRAN I, II and III
Author
Backus, John
Volume
1
Issue
1
fYear
1979
Firstpage
21
Lastpage
37
Abstract
This article discusses attitudes about "automatic programming," the economics of programming, and existing programming systems, all in the early 1950s. It describes the formation of the FORTRAN group, its knowledge of existing systems, its plans for FORTRAN, and the development of the language in 1954. It describes the development of the optimizing compiler for FORTRAN I, of various language manuals, and of FORTRAN II and III. It concludes with remarks about later developments and the impact of FORTRAN and its successors on programming today.
Keywords
Algorithms; Automatic programming; Computer aided instruction; Computer languages; History; Optimizing compilers; Program processors; Programming profession;
fLanguage
English
Journal_Title
Annals of the History of Computing
Publisher
ieee
ISSN
0164-1239
Type
jour
DOI
10.1109/MAHC.1979.10013
Filename
4392880
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