Sorry your browser is not supported!

You are using an outdated browser that does not support modern web technologies, in order to use this site please update to a new browser.

Browsers supported include Chrome, FireFox, Safari, Opera, Internet Explorer 10+ or Microsoft Edge.

Geek Culture / how did programming languages start?

Author
Message
Zotoaster
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 20th Dec 2004
Location: Scotland
Posted: 14th Oct 2005 20:45
Link
How could a programming language possibly start? DB must've been programmed by some other programming language, and that one must've been programmed by some programming language, etc etc etc.. but where did the first one come from? what was it programmed by, because if it was programmed by something then it wouldn't be the first one.. how did it all start?


Back to top
Profile PM Email
soapyfish
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 24th Oct 2003
Location: Yorkshire, England
Posted: 14th Oct 2005 20:47 Edited at: 14th Oct 2005 20:48
Link
I imagine the first language was binary (lot's of ones and noughts, i.e. 0110100100101010101)

But that's just a reasonably sensible guess, as for the other questions. I have no idea.

*tries to think of witty and original signature*
*fails*
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Me!
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Jul 2005
Location:
Posted: 14th Oct 2005 20:58 Edited at: 14th Oct 2005 20:59
Link
the original programs where in binary, punched into cards or tape or programmed with plugs inserted into boards like an old fashioned telephone exchange, but that was lot of work and slow, so they used this primitive method to write the first assembler language, then it grew from there, since the assembler made it easier to program they added to it, then they added keyboard input, then line printers to see what they typed, then added to that again etc.



Tyger software
Back to top
Profile PM
MicroMan
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 19th Aug 2003
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posted: 14th Oct 2005 21:01
Link
The first one was "digital". It was real switches with two positions - on and off - on computers like the Altair or Eniac. Then as computers evolved you got stuff like assembly language, which isn't binary of course. So, it all falls down to binary and assembly language - even on big modern computers. Because the switches from Eniac are basically still there, except they're microscopic these days. THat's why it's called digital. Ones and zeros. On and off.

-----
They SAID that given enough time a million monkeys with typewriters could recreate the collected works of William Shakespeare... Internet sure proved them wrong.
-----
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Zotoaster
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 20th Dec 2004
Location: Scotland
Posted: 14th Oct 2005 21:01
Link
wow, now I get it, this has always confused me


Back to top
Profile PM Email
Me!
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Jul 2005
Location:
Posted: 14th Oct 2005 21:02
Link
http://www.princeton.edu/~ferguson/adw/programming_languages.shtml



Tyger software
Back to top
Profile PM
Ace Of Spades
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 6th Mar 2005
Location: Across the ocean
Posted: 14th Oct 2005 21:19
Link
It depends on what is considered the first programming methods. Technically you could compute on an abacus using the movement of the beads, in which case the position of the beads would be the program. But as that's not electronical or really mechanical, it generally isn't considered the first. It all just depends on your point of view to decide where it all came from.

You know you want it Straight-Up
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Dazzag
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 26th Aug 2002
Location: Cyprus
Posted: 14th Oct 2005 21:27
Link
I remember back in Uni they decided (stupidely) the main language (there were many) taught would be Ada (the one used to program tanks, and pretty much anything else in the military, and the language that Pascal was created as a training language for). Apparently the last 3 versions at the time were programmed in.... Ada. Tops.

Cheers

Ps. It may have been useless for like 99% of us (we don't want to program missile guidance systems really, that is if it means joining one of the forces and getting *shot* at) as there are like zero jobs outside the military. But 2 people on our course got a sandwich year out programming the heads up display of the Eurofighter. Tops.

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
David T
Retired Moderator
22
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 27th Aug 2002
Location: England
Posted: 14th Oct 2005 22:04
Link
I suppose the first languages closely mimicked the actual CPU operations, so I suppose that's as low down as possible you can get.

"A book. If u know something why cant u make a kool game or prog.
come on now. A book. I hate books. book is stupid. I know that I need codes but I dont know the codes"
Back to top
Profile PM Email Website
Silent Knight
19
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 25th Jan 2005
Location: In Your Mind
Posted: 14th Oct 2005 22:16
Link
assembler was one of the earliest. interacted with the hardware directly

Only when the last tree is cut, the last river is dammed, and the last spot of ground is paved will we realize we can't eat money
Back to top
Profile PM
Lukas W
21
Years of Service
User Offline
Joined: 5th Sep 2003
Location: Sweden
Posted: 14th Oct 2005 22:48
Link
at school we got to program with assemby. it was hard. i made a cool program though first check if something is true, if true a light is lit. then if something is pressed, the light ends and a sound beeps, but that could only happen if the light was lit. so yeah, it was fun but hard.

http://lukashangout.tk - ZombieHunter - This is a map editor
Back to top
Profile PM Email
Back to top

Login to post a reply

Server time is: 2024-11-15 22:55:02
Your offset time is: 2024-11-15 22:55:02