On 2/15/25 12:27, Frank Leonhardt via cctalk wrote:
On 15/02/2025 16:35, Jon Elson via cctalk wrote:
On 2/15/25 08:43, Frank Leonhardt via cctalk wrote:
As those of us with a few years will know, Tony Hoare
(and Jill's) implementation of Algol 60 on the Elliott
803 was a highly significant event in the history of
computer languages. It was the first practical
commercial Algol compiler, launched block structures
languages, and played a part in Elliott selling nearly
300 803B computers at a time when 300 computers was a
big number.
Obviously the US preferred Fortran and COBOL for
commercial use, and there were other Algol compilers in
some shape or other knocking about in universities. But
I'd say this implementation put block structured
programming into the mainstream. (And it was the first
high level language I used, but that's beside the point).
The Bendix G15 (introduced in 1956) had ALGO, their
variant of Algol. Not sure when this was available, but
likely after 1958 or so. I think it was the only high
level language available on that computer.
Running anything like Algol on a machine with drum memory
seems a bit optimistic!
Compiles were supposed to take about 2 DAYS! With constant
changing of compiler phase tapes. We never got our G15
close to running enough to try it. It had two badly scored
drum tracks.
Jon
