Which Computer Language Uses Short Words Known as Mnemonics for Writing Programs
When it comes to programming languages that utilize short words known as mnemonics for writing programs, one of the most prominent examples is Assembly Language. This low-level programming language is closely related to machine code, where each mnemonic corresponds to a specific machine instruction.
Introduction to Assembly Language
Assembly language provides a more readable approach to programming by using mnemonic codes to represent machine instructions. This makes it significantly easier for programmers to write and understand code compared to the binary or hexadecimal machine language directly used by computers. Common mnemonics include MOV (Move), ADD (Add), SUB (Subtract), and JMP (Jump).
Evolution of Assemblers
The instruction sets of most contemporary microprocessor assemblers utilize mnemonic codes rather than full English words. For instance, the 6502 microprocessor, popular on the Commodore 64, and the Z80 and 8080, which influenced subsequent Intel chip languages, are key examples. These early assemblers laid the groundwork for future languages and expanded the original 8086 instruction set.
Mnemonic Usage in Modern Programming
While mnemonic codes have largely been replaced by high-level languages, the same principles are still applied in various programming scenarios. Many programmers today use single characters or single characters with trailing numbers to assign objects within their programs. It's not uncommon for known types to be renamed to significantly shorten class names and reduce lines of code, thus optimizing performance. An example might look like MsGlobalsWin32GLMediaFrame, which is sometimes abbreviated to med_fr for easier reference.
ALP: The APL Programming Language
Another famous example of a programming language that incorporates mnemonics is Ken Iverson’s APL (A Programming Language) programming language, which he was awarded the Turing Award for in 1970. APL is notable for its unique mathematical notation, which got its start in 1957 at Harvard University before Iverson began work at IBM in 1960. This notation was further refined and documented in Iverson’s 1962 book, “A Programming Language”.
Iverson's Mathematical Notation
The book’s preface describes its purpose: ‘Applied mathematics is largely concerned with the design and analysis of explicit procedures for calculating the exact or approximate values of various functions. Such explicit procedures are called algorithms or programs. Because an effective notation for the description of programs exhibits considerable syntactic structure, it is called a programming language. ’
The notation developed by Iverson and Adin Falkoff found application in short research reports on computer systems such as the Burroughs B5000, where the choice between stack machines and register machines was being evaluated by IBM. This notation was also used in a draft chapter of Iverson's book 'Automatic Data Processing,' co-authored with Fred Brooks.
Impact of IJF Notation
The IJF (Iverson and Falkoff's) notation is both a fascinating and practical tool for mathematicians and computer scientists. While arrays in modern programming are referred to as tensors, the fundamental mathematical concepts remain the same, much to the amusement of those who experienced the earlier era of computing.
In summary, while Assembly Language and APL (A Programming Language) are among the less commonly used languages today, they serve as important examples of how mnemonics and mathematical notation have shaped the evolution of computer programming. Both continue to influence the field through their unique approaches to problem-solving and computational design.