✅ Class: 10
✅ Subject: Computer and Computer Programming
✅ Instructor: Lalit Kumar
✅ Session Type: Video Lecture
✅ Series Name: Coding Ka Toofan 2023
✅ Topic Name: The Evolution of Computers and Programming
✅ Topics to be Covered: How does computer understand our instructions? The Binary System & Computer Evolution Before 1940s - Charles Babbage Difference Engine - Charles Babbage Analytical Engine - Ada Lovelace - Herman Hollerith Computer Evolution After 1940s Computer Programming Evolution
1 Answer
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History of computer programming
Computer programming is the process of creating and executing instructions that tell a computer what to do. Computer programming can be used for various purposes, such as solving problems, creating applications, automating tasks, and expressing creativity.
The history of computer programming can be traced back to ancient times, when people devised ways to control machines and devices using mechanical or electrical signals. For example, in the 9th century, the Persian Banu Musa brothers invented a programmable music sequencer that could play different melodies using valves and pipes. In the 13th century, the Arab engineer Al-Jazari designed a programmable drum machine that could play different rhythms using pegs and cams.
However, the modern era of computer programming began in the 19th century, when mathematicians and engineers started to design machines that could perform complex calculations and logic operations. One of the pioneers of this field was Charles Babbage, who conceived the idea of a programmable mechanical computer called the Analytical Engine. Although he never completed his invention, he designed many features that are still used in modern computers, such as memory, arithmetic unit, control unit, and input/output devices.
Babbage also collaborated with Ada Lovelace, who is widely regarded as the first computer programmer. Lovelace wrote an algorithm to compute Bernoulli numbers using the Analytical Engine, and also speculated about the potential of the machine to perform more than just numerical calculations. She envisioned that it could manipulate symbols, create music, and even have artificial intelligence.
The development of computer programming accelerated in the 20th century, with the invention of electronic computers that could store and process data using binary digits (bits). The first electronic computers were programmed using low-level languages, such as machine code and assembly language, which directly corresponded to the hardware instructions and registers of the computer. These languages were fast and efficient, but also difficult and tedious to write and debug.
To overcome these limitations, high-level languages were created that allowed programmers to express their logic using more abstract and human-readable syntax and semantics. These languages were translated into low-level languages using compilers or interpreters. Some of the earliest high-level languages were FORTRAN (Formula Translation), developed by John Backus at IBM in 1957 for scientific computing; LISP (List Processing), developed by John McCarthy at MIT in 1958 for artificial intelligence; and COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language), developed by Grace Hopper and others in 1959 for business applications.
Since then, hundreds of high-level languages have been developed for various domains and paradigms of programming. Some of the most influential and popular ones include BASIC (Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code), developed by John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz in 1964 for educational purposes; C, developed by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs in 1972 for system programming;
SQL (Structured Query Language), developed by Edgar Codd in 1974 for database manipulation;
C++, developed by Bjarne Stroustrup in 1983 as an extension of C with object-oriented features;
Java, developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems in 1995 for cross-platform and network programming;
Python, developed by Guido van Rossum in 1991 for general-purpose and scripting programming; and JavaScript, developed by Brendan Eich at Netscape in 1995 for web development.
Computer programming has become one of the most important and ubiquitous skills in the modern world, as it enables people to create software that can perform various functions and tasks on computers and other devices.
Computer programming is also a creative and rewarding activity that can challenge and inspire people to learn new concepts and technologies. As computer programming evolves with the advancement of hardware and software, it will continue to offer new opportunities and possibilities for human-computer interaction.