| Given the impact of computer programming on our | | | | had to be devised to operate a specific machine. The |
| daily lives, it is easy to forget it is a relatively new | | | | machines could be reprogrammed, but the information |
| development, particularly on a wide scale usage as we | | | | could not be stored. Every change required |
| see today. | | | | reprogramming again. In 1954, FORTRAN became the |
| The story of computer programming might be traced | | | | first "computer programming language" that could be |
| back as far as 1206 when an Arab scholar and | | | | used to write the codes that would now be stored in |
| inventor named Al-Jazari made a humanoid robot that | | | | the memory of the computing device. COBOL and |
| was operated by a series of cams and levers. The | | | | other unique languages soon followed. |
| cams and levers could be "programmed" to produce | | | | The last few decades have seen a sudden leap of |
| various reactions and operations. This was the | | | | technology in the area of programming. It was like a |
| essence of programming. It is a method of giving | | | | dam had burst and the waters of change swept like a |
| instructions to a machine. | | | | flood over the landscape. Rapid increases in |
| The Jacqurd Loom in 1801 and the Analytical Engine | | | | processing ability and the ability to make the physical |
| made by Charles Babbage in 1830 used punch cards | | | | size of memory hardware smaller and smaller while |
| to give the instructions to the machine. These two | | | | their capacity increased created the modern world of |
| devices were early developments that would ultimately | | | | the computer that we enjoy today. |
| lead to programming as it is done today. This early | | | | The role of programming has become more complex, |
| step was the recognition that there was a need to find | | | | but it has also not changed from its fundamental |
| a way to feed information that was written by | | | | purpose. The programmer still must give the machine |
| humans into the machine. The punch card was the | | | | the instructions that it needs to perform its intended |
| foundation of the data processing revolution and for | | | | function. Although this function has changed from |
| the next 100 years, it was the method that was used | | | | simple computing to incredible graphic games and |
| to program and operate the calculating devices that | | | | massive data control, the programmer must still write |
| would usher in the computer age. | | | | his program in a language that he understands, but can |
| It was the invention of the Von Neuman Architecture | | | | also be understood by the computer. The history of |
| that made it possible to store different programs into | | | | programming as it is today may very well be only |
| memory. Prior to this development, a single program | | | | chapter one of a longer saga. |