[NJARC] FORTRAN

[john ruccolo]

Hi Al/Rob/Folks,

Fortran was of course derisively known as FORTRASH. I
used it in college too. It's fine for math stuff, not
much good for much else.

Not to get too technical, but the article doesn't make
clear that the concept and design and build of a
*compiler* was the breakthrough, along with the idea
of high-level computer language. Things we take for
granted today, like stored-memory programs and
high-level computer languages, were cutting-edge ideas
at one time.

I still have a box of latter-day punched cards out in
the garage, marked SPRING '79. Those were the days....

JR


--- Al Klase <al at ar88.net> wrote:

> Visit our web site - See http://www.njarc.org
> _______________________________________________
> Rob,
> 
> I thought you were younger than that.  It's amazing
> any of us learned 
> anything that way.
> 
> Al
> 
> Robert Flory wrote:
> > Visit our web site - See http://www.njarc.org
> > _______________________________________________
> > Ahh, FORTRAN.  Brings back memories....
> >
> > In my freshman year at RPI, I participated in a
> ritual where I went to the
> > computer center(formerly the campus chapel) and
> made an offering of punched
> > cards.  If "god" was pleased, I received a large
> printout that had the
> > desired output.  If not, it said, "SYNTAX ERROR"
> and I would have to make
> > another offering.
> >
> >   
> 
> -- 
> Al Klase - N3FRQ
> Flemington, NJ
> http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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> NJARC at mailman.qth.net
> http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/njarc
> 



 
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