Question

Are short-answer questions. FORTRAN and COBOL were two high-level languages defined during the second generation of computer software. Compare and contrast these languages in terms of their history and their purpose.

Short answer

FORTRAN is used for scientific and engineering purposes, while COBOL is used for business applications; they were developed concurrently in the 1950s but for different use cases.

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the History of FORTRAN

FORTRAN, short for Formula Translating System, was developed in the 1950s by a team at IBM led by John Backus. It was one of the first high-level programming languages and was mainly used for scientific and engineering applications. The idea was to allow engineers and scientists to write codes using mathematical formulas.

Understanding the History of COBOL

COBOL, which stands for Common Business-Oriented Language, was also developed in the 1950s, mainly by Grace Hopper and others involved in the CODASYL consortium. It was created to support business applications and was designed to be readable and easy to understand, making it accessible for non-programmers such as business analysts.

Comparing their Purposes

FORTRAN was primarily aimed at numerical computation tasks, making it perfect for scientific calculations, complex mathematics, and engineering. In contrast, COBOL was designed for business data processing tasks, such as managing large data files, and excels in writing clear and concise code for record handling and complex business operations.

Contrasting their Applications

While both languages emerged in the same period, they served completely different application domains. FORTRAN's strength is in computation-heavy activities, often seen in physics, weather modeling, and simulations. COBOL, with its strong suit in business logic and data processing, finds use in banking, insurance, and administrative systems.

Key concepts

FORTRAN history

FORTRAN, which stands for Formula Translation, holds a prominent place in the history of programming languages as one of the earliest high-level languages developed. Its inception traces back to the 1950s, thanks to a dedicated team at IBM led by John Backus. Their primary aim was to simplify the coding process for engineers and scientists who frequently worked with intricate mathematical formulas. Before FORTRAN, programmers had to write in complex assembly languages. This innovation allowed the technical community to express computations directly.
FORTRAN made it easier to implement algorithms through high-level constructs, reducing the need for meticulous, low-level programming details. This breakthrough significantly increased productivity and reduced errors, making scientific programming far more accessible.

• Key innovation: High-level structures for mathematical computations
• Main usage: Scientific and engineering domains

COBOL history

COBOL, an acronym for Common Business-Oriented Language, emerged in the late 1950s, largely through the efforts of Grace Hopper and the CODASYL consortium. Unlike FORTRAN, COBOL focused on business applications, and its primary goal was to design a language that non-technically trained business professionals could easily use.
ROOTED IN A BUSINESS MINDSET, COBOL became central to record handling and data processing tasks in enterprises. Its syntax was deliberately made to resemble plain English, which made it more intuitive for business analysts and reduced the learning curve.
This accessibility and readability contributed to its widespread adoption in industries like banking, insurance, and general business management, solidifying its place in the world of business data processing.

• Key feature: Easy to understand, English-like syntax
• Main usage: Business applications and large-scale data processing

scientific computing

Scientific computing involves the application of computational methods and mathematical models to solve scientific and engineering problems. In this context, FORTRAN has been a trailblazer since its inception. Its design emphasizes efficient numerical calculation, which is crucial for simulations, physical modeling, and data analysis.
FORTRAN's ability to handle complex mathematical operations with precision makes it indispensable in fields like physics, meteorology, and other data-intensive scientific disciplines. Even today, newer iterations of FORTRAN include libraries and functionalities designed to meet the ever-evolving requirements of scientific computation.

• Common applications: Weather forecasting, simulations, computational physics
• Essential characteristics: Powerful number-crunching capabilities, support for large data sets

business data processing

Business data processing refers to the systems and methods used to collect, process, and manage data related to business operations. COBOL shines in this domain thanks to its ability to handle extensive datasets and perform complex data manipulations seamlessly. Its strength lies in its ability to maintain precise records and execute extensive calculations required by banks, insurance companies, and government agencies.
COBOL's structure caters to the need for clarity and reliability in processing significant volumes of transactions, ensuring consistency and precision.
Thanks to its crystal-clear syntax, businesses adopted COBOL for routine tasks like payroll processing, inventory management, and administrative record-keeping, tasks that necessitate high levels of accuracy.

• Main tasks: Handling large datasets, transaction processing, generating accurate reports
• Significance: Reliable, longevity in business applications, facilitating straightforward updates