"Nobody programs in machine language" (was: Modern

From: Huw Davies <huw.davies_at_kerberos.davies.net.au>
Date: Thu Jun 24 08:34:22 2004

On 24 Jun 2004, at 09:13, Dwight K. Elvey wrote:

>
>> From: "der Mouse" <mouse_at_rodents.montreal.qc.ca>
>>
>>> Q: Current C compilers are written in C.
>>> What was the FIRST C compiler written in?
>>
>> Was there a well-defined "first C compiler"? I'm not sure there was.
>> The language we know today as C has evolved over many years, and it's
>> hard to find an obvious place to draw a "before this was not C" line.
>
> Hi
> There was a 'B' as well. I don't recall hearing about a 'A'.

Of course not. BCPL lead to B which lead to C. And in some sense CPL
lead to BCPL.

Some (OK. me :-) would argue that moving from left to right might not
have been an
improvement.

I'm far enough South to appreciate the flames that this will ignite,
although Ethan would
appreciate the heat even more ....

Huw Davies | e-mail: Huw.Davies_at_kerberos.davies.net.au
Melbourne | "If soccer was meant to be played in the
Australia | air, the sky would be painted green"
Received on Thu Jun 24 2004 - 08:34:22 BST