FORTRAN Beginnings: FORTRAN is one of the oldest programming languages, originally developed by John Backus and a team of programmers working at IBM. It was first released in 1957 and it is an acronym for FORmula TRANslation. It was the first high- level language and also had the first compiler ever created. Back when it was developed, computer programmers had to program in machine and/or assembly code. This took much longer than the programming languages we use today. FORTRAN allowed much more efficient and easier methods than were available which opened the doors for professions besides computer scientists. Most notable among these professions were engineers and mathematicians, who were now able to use computers to do higher-level equations and mathematics. This allowed them to focus more on the problem solving aspects, and less with the time-consuming and often difficult task of coding. This change helped to define the entire history of computers and was a major step towards computers being useful not just to computer scientists. The developer of UNIX, Ken Thompson, recalls that “95 percent of the people who programmed in the early years would never have done it without Fortran.” Notable Updates/Versions: While there are more versions in it’s history, these were the most significant ones. FORTRAN: The first version that was made as a programming tool for the IBM 704 in FORTRAN 66: In the 60s, a standardized version was created by the American Standards Association to help make it accessible and usable across multiple types of computers. FORTRAN 77: This is the most widely used version of FORTRAN. It was released after other languages started to release features it didn’t have. Fortran 90: This was the first version released that didn’t require all upper case in it’s name. It expanded on 77 and was well liked because it was compatible with 77, making all the old code accessible. Continued Success and Popularity: While FORTRAN is one of the oldest programming languages, it has managed to stay relevant and practical all the way into the modern day. The major reason for this is it has remained as one of the fastest and most accurate languages for numeric computation and scientific computing. It’s main use today if from scientists and mathematicians who use it to help them solve complex problems and equations. The main reason for it’s speed is it’s compiler which has been optimized through it numerous versions put out by different people and companies. It also has the advantage of over 50 years of code preprogrammed into it. It has libraries of old code that has been proven to work and can be added onto as necessary. This can save a great deal of time because it allows the user to only input the new information it wants to test out. These libraries are allowed through the backwards compatibility many of the versions have, especially the jump from FORTRAN 77 to Fortran 90. Another factor, it’s language, has helped it since the very beginning. At the start, it was designed to make it as close to actual mathematics as possible. Their goal was to make it easy to use, so even if you didn’t know much about programming you could jump on if you knew mathematics. They have stuck with this principle throughout the years only adding language if it helped to make the process clearer or more efficient. Uses Today: FORTRAN not only paved the way for other programming languages, but has and is continuing to be used for a wide variety of uses from a various professions. Businesses like banks and insurance companies would use it to build intensive number crunching programs to assess risk or design actuarial tables. It’s used in Doppler radar weather forecasts and atmosphere/ oceanic studies. It’s used for more advanced scientific purposes like NASA models of climate change or classified nuclear weapons and laser fusion codes. It’s even used by farmers to breed the most cost-effective chickens bases on genetic selection. Middle Picture: An IBM 704 Mainframe Bottom Left Picture: A photo from 1982 of the original FORTRAN development team.

References  future-can-any-coding-language-top-a-1950s-behemoth/ future-can-any-coding-language-top-a-1950s-behemoth/   ortran.html ortran.html    