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A Comprehensive History and Evolution of Programming Languages

In 1804, a French weaver and merchant, Joseph Marie Jacquard, developed a device to simplify the process of manufacturing textiles. He fitted this device to a loom. A loom is a device used for weaving fabric by interlacing threads.

Jacquard loom
GeorgeOnline, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

By fitting this programmable device, he was able to automate the weaving process for even complex designs like brocade and damask. Brocade and damask are rich, decorative fabrics that have been popular throughout history. People around the world still wear brocade and damask fabrics, especially in fashion, traditional attire, and on special occasions. Brocade is a decorative shuttle-woven fabric made up of complex designs with multiple colors and textures.

brocade
Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Whereas damask is a woven, reversible patterned fabric suitable for items like tablecloths and upholstery.

damask
User:Achodyrew123, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This time, you might be wondering why I’m discussing materials from the textile industry in a post about the evolution and history of programming languages. Well, please hold on; you will soon understand the connection. Let’s get back to the topic.

This machine was named the 'Jacquard Machine.' The Jacquard machine was controlled by a series of cards. Each card had a series of holes punched in it, which is why these cards were called punched cards. The presence and absence of holes in punched cards represented different weaving styles. Specifically, the pattern of holes on a card determined which warp threads (vertical threads) were lifted and which were lowered during each pass of the weft (horizontal threads).

warp and weft demonstration
Alfred Barlow, Ryj, PKM, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

So by feeding a series of punched cards into the Jacquard machine, even complex weaving patterns were automated.

Jacquard loom punched cards
Savannah Rivka, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Jacquard machine was not a programming language, but it was a programmable machine that showed how a series of punched cards could automate the weaving process without manual intervention. By changing the pattern and adding or removing punched cards, different weaving styles and patterns could be automated. This was remarkable at the time. Although it was not related to computers or programming, it laid the foundation for modern programming languages and data processing. It was a revolutionary advancement in the textile industry and influenced the development of programming languages and data processing technologies that we use today. Isn’t it amazing?

If you read about the history or evolution of computers and programming languages, you will often find references to punched cards. Scientists and engineers used punched cards in various ways, based on the number and sequence of holes, to perform different operations. For example, if one card had a certain sequence of holes, it would perform one operation; if another card had a different sequence, it would perform a different operation.

Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine

The Analytical Engine, designed by Charles Babbage in the 1830s, was an early idea for a general-purpose computer. It was meant to handle various calculations and tasks. It had features similar to modern computers:

How It Worked: Programs and data were fed into the machine using punched cards. The Mill processed these instructions, and the results were then printed or recorded.

charles babbage analytical engine
Jitze Couperus from Los Altos Hills, California, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Analytical Engine was designed to perform any sequence of operations, including:

It was capable of handling a range of operations from basic arithmetic to complex mathematical functions, all based on the instructions provided through punched cards. This was a crucial step in the evolution of programming and computing.

Herman Hollerith’s Tabulating Machine

Herman Hollerith’s Tabulating Machine, developed in the late 19th century, revolutionized data processing by efficiently handling the 1890 U.S. Census data.

tabulating machine
Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia "Leonardo da Vinci", CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Here is how it worked:

Here is its impact:

Colossus

After extensive research and development, the world saw the creation of the first programmable digital computer, the Colossus. Developed during World War II, it was specifically designed to break encrypted German messages. The continued evolution of computers, programs, and systems has been driven by the need to automate processes, simplify tasks, and provide various benefits, contributing to the ongoing advancement of computer programming..

The Colossus was designed by British engineer Tommy Flowers and his team at the Government Code and Cypher School. Its purpose was to decipher the German Lorenz cipher, used for encoding high-level military communications. The successful decoding of these messages played a crucial role in the Allies' victory by providing vital intelligence.

colossus
See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Here is how it worked:

The principles and technologies used in Colossus influenced the design of future electronic computers. Its approach to data processing and electronic computation set standards for future computer development.

The Concept of Low-level and High-level Languages

Computer science evolution sped up significantly after Herman Hollerith's Tabulating Machine. With the invention and implementation of early electronic computers, the acceleration of technological progress became rapid. During this period, the concepts of low-level and high-level programming languages came into existence.

Let's start with low-level languages. The concept of low-level languages emerged with the early development of computer systems in the 1940s and 1950s. Assembly language is considered the first low-level programming language.

Assembly Languages: The First Low-Level Programming Language

Don’t get confused by the “s” in “Assembly Languages.” You can also use "Assembly Language" as they refer to the same concept. However, there are multiple assembly languages tailored to different computer architectures. Each processor type has its own specific instructions and corresponding assembly language.

Early programming involved direct manipulation of machine code. To bridge the gap between human-readable instructions and machine code, assembly language emerged. Assembly languages use mnemonic codes and labels to represent machine-level instructions and memory locations.

For example, the assembly instruction:

MOV AL, 61h

tells the computer to move the value 61h into the register AL, performing the same operation as the binary code:

10110000

Assembly languages allow programmers to write code that interacts directly with hardware, providing precise control over operations. This is useful for tasks like optimization.

Here is how it works: Programmers write source code in assembly language using mnemonics and labels. The source code is passed through an assembler, which translates it into machine code (binary code).

Here’s an example of a "Hello, World" program in assembly language:

section .data
    hello db 'Hello, World!', 0

section .text
    global _start

_start:
    ; Write to stdout
    mov rax, 1          ; syscall number for sys_write
    mov rdi, 1          ; file descriptor for stdout
    mov rsi, hello      ; pointer to the string
    mov rdx, 13         ; length of the string
    syscall             ; make the system call

    ; Exit the program
    mov rax, 60         ; syscall number for sys_exit
    xor rdi, rdi        ; exit code 0
    syscall             ; make the system call

In this assembly code,

section .data
    hello db 'Hello, World!', 0

"section .data" is used to define initialized data or constants. "hello db 'Hello, World!', 0" defines a string followed by a null byte (0) to mark the end of the string. db stands for "define byte" and is used to allocate storage for the string in memory. And in the following code snippet.

section .text
    global _start

"section .text" contains the executable code. "global _start" declares _start as the entry point of the program.

_start:
    ; Write to stdout
    mov rax, 1          ; syscall number for sys_write
    mov rdi, 1          ; file descriptor for stdout
    mov rsi, hello      ; pointer to the string
    mov rdx, 13         ; length of the string
    syscall             ; make the system call

The "_start:" is a label indicating the starting point of the program execution. Whereas,

Finally,

    ; Exit the program
    mov rax, 60         ; syscall number for sys_exit
    xor rdi, rdi        ; exit code 0
    syscall             ; make the system call

is used to exit the program. Let's again define this code snippet, one by one:

Even though writing "Hello, World" in assembly seems complex compared to modern languages like Python (which uses print("Hello, World")), assembly language represents a significant step in the evolution of programming. It provided a bridge from direct machine code to more abstract programming, leading to the development of high-level languages that are more efficient and easier to use.

In machine code, the equivalent would be:

00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  ; (padding or initial data)
48 b8 01 00 00 00 00 00 00  ; mov rax, 1
48 bf 01 00 00 00 00 00 00  ; mov rdi, 1
48 be [address]  ; mov rsi, address of 'Hello, World!'
48 ba 0d 00 00 00 00 00 00  ; mov rdx, 13
0f 05  ; syscall
48 b8 3c 00 00 00 00 00 00  ; mov rax, 60
48 31 ff  ; xor rdi, rdi
0f 05  ; syscall

While it may seem cumbersome compared to modern languages, assembly laid the groundwork for the development of more advanced programming languages, greatly speeding up the process and enhancing functionality.

FORTRAN: The First High-Level Programming Language

As the field of computer science and technology continued to evolve, the idea of high-level programming languages began to take shape in the late 1950s and 1960s. At that time, computers were becoming more complex, and there was a need for languages that were easier for programmers to write and understand. In response to this need, IBM developed the first high-level programming language, named FORTRAN, short for "Formula Translation," in the mid-1950s and released in 1957. It was designed by a team led by John Backus. This innovation significantly changed the path of programming language evolution, and development in this field began to skyrocket thereafter.

FORTRAN was designed to handle the heavy computational demands of scientific and engineering applications. Its ability to process complex mathematical formulas made it a powerful tool for researchers at the time.

FORTRAN introduced many features that are now standard in modern programming languages, such as loops, conditional statements, and subroutines. Its creation led to significant advancements in compiler technology. It set the foundation for languages designed for specific applications, such as COBOL for business and LISP for artificial intelligence.

Now let's compare the same "Hello, World!" program written in FORTRAN to its assembly language counterpart and see how much easier it becomes after the development of FORTRAN.

program hello
    print *, 'Hello, World!'
end program hello

In this FORTRAN program:

This example shows how FORTRAN simplifies programming tasks compared to assembly language, making it easier to write and understand code.

FORTRAN in NASA's Apollo Missions

FORTRAN was extensively used in the early space missions conducted by NASA. The language's ability to handle complex calculations made it ideal for simulations, trajectory calculations, and other critical tasks in the Apollo missions. Besides this, FORTRAN was used in weather forecasting, scientific research, high-performance computing, and more.

FORTRAN was a groundbreaking language that revolutionized programming by making it more accessible and efficient. Its development marked a significant milestone in the evolution of programming languages, paving the way for future innovations and advancements in the field.

LISP: A Breakthrough in Artificial Intelligence

LISP, which stands for LISt Processing, was developed in the late 1950s by John McCarthy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It was specifically designed for artificial intelligence research, a field that was just beginning to emerge at that time. John McCarthy, a prominent figure in AI research, created LISP to address the needs of AI development.

The primary data structure in LISP is the list, which facilitates easy manipulation of symbols and expressions. This feature is crucial for AI applications that require symbolic reasoning and pattern matching. Some of LISP's key features include recursion, garbage collection, and dynamic typing. These capabilities have made LISP widely used in various AI research projects, including natural language processing, expert systems, and machine learning.

Early versions of AutoCAD utilized LISP for scripting and customization. Although newer programming languages have emerged, LISP continues to be influential in the field of AI and beyond. The concepts introduced by LISP have inspired many modern programming languages, including Python, Ruby, and JavaScript.

Some technology companies are still using LISP. For example, Google utilizes LISP for certain internal tools and research projects, particularly those related to artificial intelligence. IBM also uses LISP for similar purposes. Additionally, academic and research institutions such as MIT and Stanford University utilize LISP for various AI research projects and tools.

Talking about the "Hello, World!" code or program in LISP and comparing it to previous programming languages, you may not see a drastic difference. Many programming languages developed after FORTRAN have similar lengths or structures for such basic tasks. Nonetheless, let's look at the "Hello, World!" program in LISP to understand its approach compared to earlier languages.

(defun hello-world ()
  (format t "Hello, World!"))
  
(hello-world)

In this LISP version of the "Hello, World!" program:

COBOL: A Breakthrough in Business Programming

After the groundbreaking developments of FORTRAN and LISP, the next significant milestone in the evolution of programming languages was the creation of COBOL, short for "Common Business-Oriented Language." COBOL was designed to handle business operations such as payroll processing, inventory management, and accounting.

COBOL was developed by a committee known as the Conference on Data Systems Languages (CODASYL), which included representatives from the U.S. government, industry, and academia. A pioneering computer scientist named Grace Hopper played a crucial role in COBOL's development.

Due to its easy-to-read, English-like syntax, COBOL became accessible to business professionals who might not have extensive programming experience.

COBOL has powerful features for business management, such as the ability to define and manipulate complex data structures like records and files, facilities for handling decimal arithmetic, and producing formatted reports.

Because of its efficiency in business management, major banking and financial systems around the world began using COBOL. It has also been used in government applications for asks such as tax processing, social security, and military logistics.

COBOL is still in use today in several prominent institutions. For example, Bank of America uses COBOL for its core banking system, handling transactions, and managing customer accounts. JPMorgan Chase utilizes COBOL for transaction processing and other critical banking functions. Insurance companies such as State Farm and Allstate continue to use COBOL for various processing and operations. Additionally, government agencies such as the U.S. Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) use COBOL for processing and managing various tasks. Retail and supply chain companies like Walmart also use COBOL for inventory management and supply chain logistics.

Talking about the "Hello, World!" program in COBOL and comparing it to previous programming languages, you might find that COBOL has a distinct style due to its focus on readability and business-oriented tasks. Let's examine the COBOL "Hello, World!" program to understand its approach.

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. HelloWorld.
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
    DISPLAY 'Hello, World!'.
    STOP RUN.

In this COBOL version of the "Hello, World!" program:

ALGOL: The Birth of Structured Programming

Following the advancements made by FORTRAN, LISP, and COBOL, a significant milestone in the evolution of programming languages was the development of ALGOL. ALGOL stands for ALGOrithmic Language. This language played a crucial role in shaping the future of programming languages and introduced several concepts that influenced many modern languages such as Pascal, Ada, C, C++, Java, and Python etc. The first two (Pascal and Ada) are direct descendants, whereas the remaining (C, C++, Java, and Python) are indirect descendants of ALGOL.

ALGOL was developed in around 1960s by a committee of European and American computer scientists. It was designed and developed for scientific and mathematical computations.

ALGOL introduced the concept of structured programming, which promotes the use of control structures such as loops and conditionals to improve program clarity and reduce complexity. This just laid the groundwork for future programming methodologies. ALGOL introduced the concept of nested blocks, allowing local variables and structured program organizations.

FORTRAN introduced key programming constructs like loops, conditional statements, and subroutines. However, ALGOL is credited with formalizing and extending these concepts into what we now recognize as structured programming.

When discussing the "Hello, World!" program in ALGOL and comparing it to earlier programming languages, you’ll notice that while the approach and syntax may differ, the basic principle of outputting a simple message remains consistent. ALGOL, which introduced many fundamental concepts in programming, provides a structured way to achieve this task.

Here's how you can write a "Hello, World!" program in ALGOL:

begin
    outstring("Hello, World!")
end

In this ALGOL version of the "Hello, World!" program:

C Programming Language: Power, Precision, and Portability

After ALGOL, a significant step in the evolution of programming languages was the development of C in the early 1970s. The introduction of C marked a major shift in programming due to its influence on system programming and its widespread adoption across various domains.

The C programming language was developed by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs between 1969 and 1973. It was created to improve the UNIX operating system, which was initially written in assembly language. C is a high-level language that provides high-level abstractions while still allowing close interaction with hardware. This design makes C highly efficient and portable, and it is renowned for its role in system programming.

Building on the concepts introduced by ALGOL, C supports structured programming through the use of functions, loops, and conditionals. It introduced standard library functions for input/output operations, string handling, and mathematical computations, which streamlined development and code reuse.

Many modern languages have been influenced by C, such as C++, C#, Java, and Python. Due to its powerful features, many applications are written in C, including the UNIX operating system, the Linux kernel, many components of Microsoft Windows, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Apache HTTP Server, and Nginx.

Companies such as Microsoft, IBM, Intel, Apple, Google, Samsung, and NVIDIA continue to use the C programming language for various tasks and processing. For example:

C's influence and continued use highlight its enduring importance in software development.

When considering the "Hello, World!" program in C and comparing it to earlier programming languages, you'll observe that C introduced a new level of simplicity and efficiency while maintaining a structured approach. C, developed in the early 1970s, was a significant advancement in programming languages, influencing many that followed.

Here’s how you write a "Hello, World!" program in C:

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    printf("Hello, World!\n");
    return 0;
}

In this C version of the "Hello, World!" program:

C++: Object-Oriented Programming and Beyond

After the development of C, a significant milestone in programming language evolution was the introduction of C++ in the early 1980s. This development marked a pivotal shift towards object-oriented programming, fundamentally changing software design and structure.

C++ was developed by Bjarne Stroustrup at Bell Labs, starting in 1979, with its first commercial release in 1985. It was designed as an extension of C, incorporating object-oriented features to meet the growing need for more complex and modular software systems.

C++ introduced the concepts of classes and objects, allowing developers to model real-world entities and relationships more naturally. Key principles of C++ include encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism. The language also supports templates, the Standard Template Library (STL), multiple inheritance, and operator overloading, making it highly versatile and powerful.

C++ is used in various fields, including system software development, game development, embedded systems, and application tools. Companies like Microsoft, Google, and Apple continue to use C++ for their various tasks and processes.

When comparing the "Hello, World!" program across different languages, you'll notice that many modern languages, including C++, share similar simplicity for such basic tasks. Nevertheless, let's explore the "Hello, World!" program in C++ to see how it leverages its features.

#include <iostream>

int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello, World!" << std::endl;
    return 0;
}

In this C++ version of the "Hello, World!" program:

Beyond C++: The Path Forward

The journey through the evolution of programming languages reveals a fascinating story of technological advancement and innovation. From the early days of assembly language to the modern era of sophisticated languages, each development has built upon its predecessors to shape the programming landscape we know today.

After C++, the evolution of programming languages continued with notable developments:

The development of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) systems such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and other cutting-edge technologies is a result of decades of progress in programming languages, algorithms, and computational theories.

The development of neural networks and deep learning techniques has revolutionized AI. Frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch, primarily written in Python and C++, have enabled the training of complex models such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and transformers, which are fundamental to systems like ChatGPT and Gemini.

As technology continues to evolve, the future of programming languages and artificial intelligence (AI) holds exciting possibilities. The rapid pace of innovation suggests several key trends and advancements that could shape the landscape of software development and AI in the coming years. Let's see what will happen in future.

Thank you for reading this post. Wishing you a future filled with innovation and prosperity. God bless you.



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