Post Menu and Details.
- 1. 700 Programming Languages
- 2. First Computer Programmer
- 3. First Computer Virus
- 4. The First Computer Bug
- 5. The First Computer Game
- Conclusion
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Reading time: ~4 minutes
Technology, in one form or another, monitors almost every aspect of our lives. With the help of technology, we can find new information, learn much easier, get in touch with friends and family, and share ideas. Scheduling is thus very important. Developers are laying the groundwork for the future of technology. Developers create the code that makes up the software.
As in the case of other fields of activity, programming has its lesser-known, but very impressive aspects. And if you are just thinking about where to start learning to program, this article will reveal some fascinating and fun facts that can surprise not only beginners but also experienced IT specialists. Here is a selection of some really interesting facts about programming.
1. 700 Programming Languages
Wikipedia informs us that there are about 700 programming languages or more. The interesting fact is that others say that the number is closer to 9000. There is a big difference. The truth is that there have been countless programming languages throughout history.
Most programming concepts work similarly in different languages, so they are language-neutral. However, the basic elements, such as the definition of variables and the choice of data types, are the basic elements of programming.
Video game programming is one of the most prominent sectors for many users. It is known that many years ago, creating a video game was considered a very difficult job, but nowadays anyone with minimal knowledge can create their own game. The video game industry is also important for the gambling segment. For instance, Rizk casino India presents a very wide range of games of this type.
Also, many companies choose to create their programming language. Therefore, new such systems may appear daily. Individual developers are also experimenting with this. Programming languages are classified according to various criteria:
- Functionality;
- How to describe the entities;
- How to implement.
2. First Computer Programmer
Has it ever occurred to you that the first programmer in history could be a woman? The woman programmer was born on December 10, 1815, and you probably heard of Ada Lovelace. Lovelace created a description of a calculating machine and wrote the first program in the world. Sure, someone had to be the first, but Lovelace was a woman, and that was in the 1840s. Lovelace was a dazzling mathematician.
Ada Lovelace was helped by the brilliant inventor Charles Babbage, drawing attention to her technological enthusiasm, mathematical talent, and analytical creativity. Lovelace met Babbage at the age of 17 while working on a mechanical computer to solve polynomial equations.
Lovelace inspired his project: the analytical engine, although only on paper, had to function as a modern computer: data and commands were entered through punched cards, data memory, and program memory were separated, and even mastered conditional jump instructions. In theory, this machine invented so far was universally programmable.
3. First Computer Virus
The so-called computer viruses are known to most people. However, many users understand little about the nature of viruses, although they are ubiquitous and can significantly affect everyone’s security.
Now, computer viruses have become commonplace, and anti-virus programs are installed on almost any computer or smartphone. But the first digital viruses appeared not long ago. According to one version, the first computer virus is called the Creeper program, which was created in 1971 by Bob Thomas. Creeper was created to test in practice whether self-replication programs are possible.
Creeper was not yet a full-fledged virus because it did not cause any harm to the system. Instead, he searched the network for computers, copied them, and displayed the message on the terminal: “I’m Creeper, catch me if you can!”
4. The First Computer Bug
In programming, an error is a slang word that usually denotes an error in a computer program or system that produces unexpected or incorrect results. Most errors arise from mistakes made by program developers in the source code or its design. The name “bug” comes from real insects that computer scientists have “cleaned” by removing beetles from servers.
In 1947, the Harvard computer stationed there under the name “Mark 2” was removed for some time because it accidentally hit a butterfly. It is blocked between the contacts and the electromechanical relay. The specialists who maintain this computer removed the already dead insect and pasted it in the technical diary of the computer’s operation while writing about the case, after which they turned on the computer again.
Meanwhile, the word “bug” in the modern sense has been used long before it by staff telegraph and telephone companies in connection with problems with electrical and radio equipment.
5. The First Computer Game
The first computer game, a duel between two spaceships, and was called Spacewar. In a few months, in his spare time, he was created by several programmers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The names of the leaders of this team were Steve Russel and Martin Graetz. They first met at the university’s travel club and shared their ideas about the science fiction world.
In 1962, it was written a quite simple program, and a few months later it was already a game, with two missiles firing at each other. Spacewar was also the first commercial game. In 1971, his arcade version Computer Space appeared but was unsuccessful. In addition, a few months earlier, a slot machine with another Spacewar modification – Galaxy Game – was installed inside the Stanford student union.
Galaxy Game was a huge success for six years, which allowed car creator Bill Pitts to return the $ 60,000 invested in the project. Currently, this version of the known Spacewar can be found in the collection of the History Center of the Computer Museum in Mountain View, California.
Conclusion
Without programming languages, the world as it is simply would not exist. Imagine living without computers, digital technologies. We believe that people who want to work or study in this field should first get acquainted with the history of programming.
As we have seen in this article, there is a lot of important information and programming issues. From the first programmer and the first virus to the existence of a variety of programming languages, it is a truly special realm.
Thank you for reading!