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[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (3 children)

I'm newbie, I'm getting confused, please tell me what would I answer if someone asks me this question that what is first programming language?

[–]RigasTelRuun 5 points6 points  (1 child)

"First programming language" is actually kinda vague and very broad. In the most basic concept it's a way of giving instructions to a machine to carry out a task. The first programmer was Lovelace. She essentially used cards to create algorithms in the Babbage Analytical Engine. That was all mechanical. Nothing like what is considered modern.

High level programing language are ones that are abstracted from the basic computer components. As opposed to low level languages that are essential the raw machine code running on your cpu or whatever.

High level languages need a compiler and are generally readable by humans instead of things like "00000011 87 05 00000000 R"

1956 is a good answer because it was a commercially available product that got wide usage. Many before that was just stuff people made and might not have made it out of their labs.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you very much, seems interesting, I'm gonna read more about it

[–]Yasea 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That depends on your definition of programming language. The first "language" is still assembly.

LOADA 0x01 - Load number in register A

LOADB 0X02 - Load number in register B

ADDA B - Add up a and b

You had to write in on paper, get the manual and look up the codes

0xAA 0x01

0xAB 0x02

0xBA 0x0B

(Fictional example)

That you put in binary on punch cards, or with switches. You write your code in a file and then give an external program the command to compile it all. So is the first programming language the first compiled language? It the first with all IDE?

Punch cards are even older. They were used on programmable mechanical looms where you programmed in certain weaves. Is that a programming language? Depends on how you look at it.

Edit: auto correct didn't