FORTRAN

FORTRAN
/fawr"tran/, n. Computers.
a high-level programming language used mainly for solving problems in science and engineering.
[1955-60; for(mula) tran(slation)]

* * *

Procedural computer programming language developed for numerical analysis by John W. Backus and others at IBM in 1957.

The name derives from FORmula TRANslation. For many years it was the most widely used high-level language for scientific and engineering computations. Though other languages, such as various versions of C, are now popular for such uses, FORTRAN is still the language of choice for numerical analysis. It has been revised several times and now includes capabilities for handling structured data, dynamic ("on-the-fly") data allocation, recursions (procedures that call themselves), and other features.

* * *

in full  Formula Translation 

      computer-programming language created in 1957 by John Backus (Backus, John W(arner)) that shortened the process of programming and made computer programming more accessible.

      The creation of FORTRAN, which debuted in 1957, marked a significant stage in the development of computer-programming languages. Previous programming was written in machine (first-generation) language or assembly (second-generation) language, which required the programmer to write instructions in binary or hexadecimal arithmetic. Frustration with the arduous nature of such programming led Backus to search for a simpler, more accessible way to communicate with computers. During the three-year development stage, Backus led an eclectic team of 10 International Business Machines (IBM) employees to create a language that combined a form of English shorthand with algebraic equations.

      FORTRAN enabled the rapid writing of computer programs that ran nearly as efficiently as programs that had been laboriously hand coded in machine language. As computers were rare and extremely expensive, inefficient programs were a greater financial problem than the lengthy and painstaking development of machine-language programs. With the creation of an efficient higher-level (or natural) language, also known as a third-generation language, computer programming moved beyond a small coterie to include engineers and scientists, who were instrumental in expanding the use of computers.

      By allowing the creation of natural-language programs that ran as efficiently as hand-coded ones, FORTRAN became the programming language of choice in the late 1950s. It was updated a number of times in the 1950s and 1960s in order to remain competitive with more contemporary programming languages. FORTRAN 77 was released in 1978, followed by FORTRAN 90 in 1991 and further updates in 1996 and 2004. However, fourth- and fifth-generation languages largely supplanted FORTRAN outside academic circles beginning in the 1970s.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • FORTRAN — Paradigmen: prozedural, imperativ, strukturiert, objektorientiert Erscheinungsjahr: 1957 Entwickler: John W. Backus, IBM …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Fortran — Basisdaten Paradigmen: prozedural, imperativ, strukturiert, objektorientiert …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Fortran — (FORmula TRANslator) est un langage de programmation utilisé principalement en calcul scientifique. Sommaire 1 Historique 2 Compilateurs 3 Exemple 4 Différentes v …   Wikipédia en Français

  • FORTRAN — (FORmula TRANslator) est un langage de programmation utilisé principalement en mathématiques et dans les applications de calcul scientifique. Sommaire 1 Historique 2 Exemple 2.1 Différentes versions de Fortran …   Wikipédia en Français

  • FORTRAN — (formula translation) Un des premiers langages de programmation de haut niveau, par opposition aux langages machine ou aux langages d’assemblage, Fortran est un des langages les plus représentatifs de la classe des langages dits algorithmiques,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • fortran — FORTRÁN s.n. (inform.) Limbaj simbolic folosit în programarea automată, orientat spre probleme tehnico ştiinţifice. – Din engl., fr. fortran. Trimis de tavilis, 13.08.2004. Sursa: DEX 98  fortrán s. n. Trimis de siveco, 10.08.2004. Sursa:… …   Dicționar Român

  • Fortran — also FORTRAN [ˈfɔːtræn ǁ ˈfɔːr ] noun [uncountable] COMPUTING abbreviation for formula translation; a language used for computer programming, especially for complicated scientific and mathematical uses: • the task of writing programs in Fortran • …   Financial and business terms

  • Fortran 5 — were a band from the early 90s, similar to such other acts of the time as The Orb, Fluke and Underworld. Their sound was mainly pop/electronic, but were notable in particular for their offbeat cover versions of Pink Floyd s Bike and Derek The… …   Wikipedia

  • FORTRAN — n. (Computers) [Formula Translation.] a higher programming language with an instruction set designed for ease of expression of mathematical functions, much used in programming of scientific and mathematical problems. [PJC] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • FORTRAN — das; s Kurzw. für engl. formula translator> bes. auf wissenschaftliche u. technische Aufgaben ausgerichtete Programmiersprache (EDV) …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • Fortran — computer programming language, 1956, from combination of elements from FORMULA (Cf. formula) + TRANSLATION (Cf. translation) …   Etymology dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”