MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

Pre-test: True or False – Write True if the said statement is true, and write False if the statement is false, on a
one-half cross-wised sheet of yellow pad paper.

Pre-test: True or False – Write True if the said statement is true, and write False if the statement is false, on a
one-half cross-wised sheet of yellow pad paper.

1. A computer programming language or programming language is a formal language comprising a set

of instructions that produce various kinds of output.
2. The first computer programming language was created in 1883, when a woman named Ada
Lovelace worked with Adam Cabbage on his very early mechanical computer, the Analysis Engine.
3. BCPL is a type of low-level computer programming language that simplifies the language of
machine code, the specific instructions needed to tell the computer what to do.
4. Java language was initially called Oak after an oak tree that stood outside Gosling's office. Later the
project went by the name Green and was finally renamed Java, from Java coffee, the coffee
from Indonesia.
5. Java was developed by Dennis Ritchie.
6. Developed by James Strachan and Bob McWhirter, Groovy is derived from Java and improves the
productivity of developers because it is easy to learn and concise.
7. Ruby was created by Jun Matsumoto, who combined parts of his favorite languages to form a new
general-purpose computer programming language that can perform many programming tasks.
8. BCPL Stands for Basic Computer Programming Language.
9. COBOL was created and developed by Dr. Grace Murray Hopper.
10. James Gosling, Mike Sheridan, and Patrick Naughton initiated the Java language project in June
1991.
 MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

Lesson 1 – Introduction to Computer Programming Language

In reality, there are lots of languages all over the world, and in every language, there’s uniqueness in it,
so how a computer had its own language? Right now, I will introduce to you what is a computer programming
language.

1.1 – What is a programming language or computer programming language?

A computer programming language or programming language is a formal language comprising

a set of instructions that produce various kinds of output.

Programming languages are used in computer programming to implement algorithms.

Most programming languages consist of instructions for computers.

Teacher’s trivia:

Algorithm is a procedure or formula for solving a problem, based on conducting a sequence of specified
actions.

There are so many programming languages exists in the cyberworld, they have uniqueness as well,
just like languages that humans have.

Here are some examples of programming languages:

 C
 C++
 Java
 Boolean
 ALGOL
 BCPL
 JavaScript
 HTML
 PHP
 And many more…
MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

1.2 – History of Computer Programming Language

Computer programming is essential in our world today, running the systems for almost every device we use.
Computer programming languages allows us to tell machines what to do. Machines and humans “think” very
differently, so programming languages are necessary to bridge the gap.

Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage (Source: Google)

The first computer programming language was created in 1883, when a woman named Ada Lovelace
worked with Charles Babbage on his very early mechanical computer, the Analytical Engine.

While Babbage was concerned with simply computing numbers, Lovelace saw that the numbers the
computer worked with could represent something other than just amounts of things.

She wrote an algorithm for the Analytical Engine that was the first of its kind. Because of her
contribution, Lovelace is credited with creating the first computer programming language.

As different needs have arisen and new devices have been created, many more languages have followed.

The rest of the timeline as follows:

1949: Assembly Language:

First widely used in the Electronic Delay Storage Automatic Calculator, assembly language is a
type of low-level computer programming language that simplifies the language of machine code, the
specific instructions needed to tell the computer what to do.

1952: Autocode:

Alick Glennie (Source: Google)

MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

Autocode was a generic term for a family of early computer programming languages. The first
was developed by Alick Glennie for the Mark 1 computer at the University of Manchester in the U.K.
Some consider autocode to be the first compiled computer programming language, meaning that it can
be translated directly into machine code using a program called a compiler.

1957: Fortran:

John Backus (Source: Google)

A computer programming language created by John Backus for complicated scientific,

mathematical, and statistical work, Fortran stands for Formula Translation. It is the one of the oldest
computer programming languages still used today.

1958: Algol:

Created by a committee for scientific use, Algol stands for Algorithmic Language. Algol served
as a starting point in the development of languages such as Pascal, C, C++, and Java.

1959: COBOL:

Dr. Grace Murray Hopper

(Source: Google)

Created by Dr. Grace Murray Hopper as a computer programming language that could run on all
brands and types of computers, COBOL stands for COmmon Business Oriented Language. It is used in
ATMs, credit card processing, telephone systems, hospital and government computers, automotive
systems, and traffic signals. In the movie The Terminator, pieces of COBOL source code were used in
the Terminator’s vision display.
MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

1958: LISP:

John McCarthy (Source: Google)

Created by John McCarthy of MIT, LISP is still in use. It stands for LISt Processing language. It
was originally created for artificial intelligence research but today can be used in situations where Ruby
or Python are used.

1964: BASIC:

John G. Kenemy and Thomas E. Kurtz (Source: Google)

Developed by John G. Kemeny and Thomas E. Kurtz at Dartmouth College so that students who
did not have a strong technical or mathematical understanding could still use computers, it stands
for Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. A modified version of BASIC was written by
Bill Gates and Paul Allen. This was to become the first Microsoft product.
MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

1967: BCPL:

Martin Richards (Source: Google)

Developed by Martin Richards, BCPL ("Basic Combined Programming Language") is

a procedural, imperative, and structured programming language. its influence is still felt because a
stripped down and syntactically changed version of BCPL, called B, was the language on which the C
programming language was based. BCPL introduced several features of many modern programming
languages, including using curly braces to delimit code blocks. BCPL was first implemented by Martin
Richards of the University of Cambridge in 1967.

1969: B:

Ken Thompson (Source: Google)

B is a programming language developed at Bell Labs circa 1969. It is the work of Ken
Thompson with Dennis Ritchie.

B was derived from BCPL, and its name may be a contraction of BCPL. Thompson's coworker
Dennis Ritchie speculated that the name might be based on Bon, an earlier, but unrelated, programming
language that Thompson designed for use on Multics.

B was designed for recursive, non-numeric, machine-independent applications, such as system

and language software.
MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

It was a typeless language, with the only data type being the underlying machine's
natural memory word format, whatever that might be. Depending on the context, the word was treated
either as an integer or a memory address.
1970: Pascal:

Niklaus Wirth (Source: Google)

Developed by Niklaus Wirth, Pascal was named in honor of the French mathematician, physicist,
and philosopher Blaise Pascal. It is easy to learn and was originally created as a tool for teaching
computer programming. Pascal was the main language used for software development in Apple’s early
years.

1972: Smalltalk:

Alan Kay, Adele Goldberg and Dan Ingalls (Source: Google)

Developed by Alan Kay, Adele Goldberg, and Dan Ingalls at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center,
Smalltalk allowed computer programmers to modify code on the fly and also introduced other aspects
now present in common computer programming languages including Python, Java, and Ruby.
MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

1972: C:

Dennis Ritchie (Source: Google)

Developed by Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs, C is considered by many to be the first high-level
language. A high-level computer programming language is closer to human language and more
removed from the machine code. C was created so that an operating system called Unix could be used
on many different types of computers. It has influenced many other languages, including Ruby, C#, Go,
Java, JavaScript, Perl, PHP, and Python.

1972: SQL:

Donald D. Chamberlain and Raymond F. Boyce (Source Google)

SQL was developed by Donald D. Chamberlin and Raymond F. Boyce at IBM. SQL stands
for Structured Query Language. It is used for viewing and changing information that is stored in
databases. SQL uses command sentences called queries to add, remove, or view data.
MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

1978: MATLAB:

Cleve Moler (Source: Google)

Developed by Cleve Moler. MATLAB stands for Matrix Laboratory. It is one of the best

computer programming languages for writing mathematical programs and is mainly used in
mathematics, research, and education. It can also be used to create two- and three-dimensional
graphics.

1983: Objective-C:

Brad Cox and Tom Love (Source: Google)

Created by Brad Cox and Tom Love, Objective-C is the main computer programming language
used when writing software for macOS and iOS, Apple’s operating systems.

1987: Perl:

Perl was originally developed by Larry Wall in 1987 as a scripting language designed for text
editing. Its purpose was to make report processing easier. It is now widely used for many purposes,
including Linux system administration, Web development, and network programming.
MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

1990: Haskell:

Haskell Brooks Curry (Source: Google)

Named after Haskell Brooks Curry, an American logician and mathematician. Haskell is called a
purely functional computer programming language, which basically means that it is mostly
mathematical. It is used by many industries, especially those that deal with complicated calculations,
records, and number-crunching.

1991: Python:

Guido van Rossum (Source: Google)

Designed by Guido Van Rossum, Python is easier to read and requires fewer lines of code than
many other computer programming languages. It was named after the British comedy group Monty
Python. Popular sites like Instagram use frameworks that are written in Python.

1991: Visual Basic:

Developed by Microsoft, Visual Basic allows programmers to choose and change pre-selected
chunks of code in a drag-and-drop fashion through a graphical user interface (GUI).
MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

1993: R:

Ross Ihaka and Robert Gentleman (Source: Google)

Developed by Ross Ihaka and Robert Gentleman at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, R is
named after the first names of the first two authors. It is mostly used by statisticians and those
performing different types of data analysis.

1995: Java:

James Gosling and Patrick Naughton (Source: Google)

Originally called Oak, Java was developed by Sun Microsystems. It was intended for cable boxes and
hand-held devices but was later enhanced so it could be used to deliver information on the World Wide
Web. Java is everywhere, from computers to smartphones to parking meters. Three billion devices run
Java!
MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

1995: PHP:

Rasmus Lerdorf (Source: Twitter)

Created by Rasmus Lerdorf, PHP is used mostly for Web development and is usually run on Web
servers. It originally stood for Personal Home Page, as it was used by Lerdorf to manage his own
online information. PHP is now widely used to build websites and blogs. WordPress, a popular website
creation tool, is written using PHP.

1995: Ruby:

Yukihiro Matsumoto (Source: Google)

Ruby was created by Yukihiro “Matz” Matsumoto, who combined parts of his favorite languages to
form a new general-purpose computer programming language that can perform many programming
tasks. It is popular in Web application development. Ruby code executes more slowly, but it allows for
computer programmers to quickly put together and run a program.
MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

1995: JavaScript:

Brendan Eich (Source: Google)

Created in just 10 days by Brendan Eich, this language is mostly used to enhance many Web browser
interactions. Almost every major website uses Javascript.

2000: C#:

Developed by Microsoft with the goal of combining the computing ability of C++ with the simplicity of
Visual Basic, C# is based on C++ and is similar to Java in many aspects. It is used in almost all
Microsoft products and is primarily used for developing desktop applications.

2003: Scala:

Martin Odersky (Source: Twitter)

Created by Martin Odersky. Scala is a computer programming language that combines functional
programming, which is mathematical, with object-oriented programming, which is organized around
data that controls access to code. Its compatibility with Java makes it helpful in Android development.
MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

2003: Groovy:

James Strachan (Source: Google)

Developed by James Strachan and Bob McWhirter, Groovy is derived from Java and improves
the productivity of developers because it is easy to learn and concise.

2009: Go:

Go was developed by Google to address problems that can occur in large software systems.
Since computer and technology use is much different today than it was when languages such as C++,
Java, and Python were introduced and put to use, problems arose when huge computer systems became
common. Go was intended to improve the working environment for programmers so they could write,
read, and maintain large software systems more efficiently.

2014: Swift:

Developed by Apple as a replacement for C, C++, and Objective-C, Swift is supposed to be

easier to use and allows less room for mistakes. It is versatile and can be used for desktop and mobile
apps and cloud services.

Most computer programming languages were inspired by or built upon concepts from previous computer
programming languages. Today, while older languages still serve as a strong foundation for new ones, newer
computer programming languages make programmers’ work simpler.

And all of these new and growing needs ensure that computer programming languages, both old and new,
will remain an important part of modern life.

Share your thoughts!

Q: What are your thoughts in regards to the evolution of programming language? Please state your thoughts.
MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

1.3 – Introduction to Java Programming Language

Java is a general-purpose programming language that is class-based, object-oriented, and designed to have

as few implementation dependencies as possible.

It is intended to let application developers write once, run anywhere (WORA), meaning that compiled Java

code can run on all platforms that support Java without the need for recompilation.
Java was originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems (which has since been acquired by
Oracle) and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform.

1.4 – History of Java Programming Language

Sun Microsystems (Source: Wikipedia)

James Gosling, Mike Sheridan, and Patrick Naughton initiated the Java language project in June
1991.

Java was originally designed for interactive television, but it was too advanced for the digital cable
television industry at the time.

The language was initially called Oak after an oak tree that stood outside Gosling's office. Later the
project went by the name Green and was finally renamed Java, from Java coffee, the coffee
from Indonesia.
The name Oak was used by Gosling after an oak tree that remained outside his office. Also, Oak is an
image of solidarity and picked as a national tree of numerous nations like the U.S.A., France, Germany,
Romania, etc. But they had to later rename it as “JAVA” as it was already a trademark by Oak
Technologies.

Java first appeared in May 23, 1995, and Sun Microsystems released the first public implementation as
Java 1.0 in 1996. It promised Write Once, Run Anywhere (WORA) functionality, providing no-cost run-
 MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

times on popular platforms. Fairly secure and featuring configurable security, it allowed network- and file-
access restrictions.

Java was created on the principles like Robust, Portable, Platform Independent, High Performance,
Multithread, etc. and was called one of the Ten Best Products of 1995 by the TIME MAGAZINE.

Currently, Java is used in internet programming, mobile devices, games, e-business solutions,
etc. The Java language has experienced a few changes since JDK 1.0 just as various augmentations of
classes and packages to the standard library. In Addition to the language changes, considerably more
sensational changes have been made to the Java Class Library throughout the years, which has developed
from a couple of hundred classes in JDK 1.0 to more than three thousand in J2SE 5.

Evaluation: True or False – Write True if the said statement is true, and write False if the statement is false,
on a one-half cross-wised sheet of yellow pad paper.

1. A computer programming language or programming language is a formal language comprising a set

of instructions that produce various kinds of output.
2. The first computer programming language was created in 1883, when a woman named Ada
Lovelace worked with Adam Cabbage on his very early mechanical computer, the Analysis Engine.
3. BCPL is a type of low-level computer programming language that simplifies the language of
machine code, the specific instructions needed to tell the computer what to do.
4. Java language was initially called Oak after an oak tree that stood outside Gosling's office. Later the
project went by the name Green and was finally renamed Java, from Java coffee, the coffee
from Indonesia.
5. Java was developed by Dennis Ritchie.
6. Developed by James Strachan and Bob McWhirter, Groovy is derived from Java and improves the
productivity of developers because it is easy to learn and concise.
7. Ruby was created by Jun Matsumoto, who combined parts of his favorite languages to form a new
general-purpose computer programming language that can perform many programming tasks.
8. BCPL Stands for Basic Computer Programming Language.
9. COBOL was created and developed by Dr. Grace Murray Hopper.
10. James Gosling, Mike Sheridan, and Patrick Naughton initiated the Java language project in June
1991.

Essay: For ten points, write what have you learned about this weekly topic that we have on this interactive
module.

Some Notes:

1. Post-test will be recorded and the instructor will collect your answers.
2. Activities will also be recorded and the instructor will collect your exercises.
 MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

Bibliography/References:

Internet Connection, Wikipedia

https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/the-complete-history-of-java-programming-language
https://www.onlinecollegeplan.com/computer-programming-languages