The A-0 system (''Arithmetic Language version 0'') was an early
compiler
In computing, a compiler is a computer program that Translator (computing), translates computer code written in one programming language (the ''source'' language) into another language (the ''target'' language). The name "compiler" is primaril ...
related tool developed for electronic computers, written by
Grace Murray Hopper in 1951 and 1952 originally for the
UNIVAC I
The UNIVAC I (Universal Automatic Computer I) was the first general-purpose electronic digital computer design for business application produced in the United States. It was designed principally by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly, the invento ...
. The A-0 functioned more as a
loader or
linker
Linker or linkers may refer to:
Computing
* Linker (computing), a computer program that takes one or more object files generated by a compiler or generated by an assembler and links them with libraries, generating an executable program or shar ...
than the modern notion of a compiler. A program was specified as a sequence of subroutines and its arguments. The subroutines were identified by a numeric code and the arguments to the subroutines were written directly after each subroutine code. The A-0 system converted the specification into
machine code
In computer programming, machine code is computer code consisting of machine language instructions, which are used to control a computer's central processing unit (CPU). For conventional binary computers, machine code is the binaryOn nonb ...
that could be fed into the computer a second time to execute the said program.
The A-0 system was followed by the A-1, A-2, A-3 (released as
ARITH-MATIC), AT-3 (released as
MATH-MATIC
MATH-MATIC is the marketing name for the AT-3 (Algebraic Translator 3) compiler, an early programming language for the UNIVAC I and UNIVAC II.
MATH-MATIC was written beginning around 1955 by a team led by Charles Katz under the direction of Gra ...
), and B-0 (released as
FLOW-MATIC
FLOW-MATIC, originally known as B-0 (Business Language version 0), was the first English-like data processing language. It was developed for the UNIVAC I at Remington Rand
Remington Rand, Inc. was an early American business machine manufactu ...
).
The A-2 system was developed at the
UNIVAC division of Remington Rand in 1953 and released to customers by the end of that year. Customers were provided the source code for A-2 and invited to send their improvements back to UNIVAC. Thus, A-2 could be considered an example of the result of an early philosophy similar to
free and open-source software
Free and open-source software (FOSS) is software available under a license that grants users the right to use, modify, and distribute the software modified or not to everyone free of charge. FOSS is an inclusive umbrella term encompassing free ...
.
See also
*
History of compiler construction
Notes
External links
Proceedings of the 1954 MIT Summer Session on "Digital Computers - Advanced Coding Techniques, section 7 - A2 Compiler and Associated Routines for use with Univac
References
#
#
#
#
#{{cite book , last = Sammet , first = Jean , title = Programming Languages: History and Fundamentals, publisher=Prentice-Hall, year=1969, pages=g. 12
Procedural programming languages
Programming languages created in 1951