History of Compiler
Duration: 3 min
This video lesson is available to enrolled students.
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The lecture provides a detailed historical overview of the development of compilers in computer science, focusing on key milestones and the individuals responsible for them. It begins by distinguishing between early implementations and the modern concept of a compiler. The instructor highlights key figures like Corrado Böhm and Grace Hopper, clarifying the specific nature of their contributions and correcting common misconceptions about the term 'compiler.' The discussion then transitions to the development of the first compiler in the modern sense by Alick Glennie and the first commercially available compiler by the FORTRAN team at IBM, marking significant steps in the industry's evolution.
Chapters
0:00 – 2:00 00:00-02:00
The instructor discusses the first practical compiler written by Corrado Böhm in 1951 for his PhD thesis, as shown on the slide. He then moves to Grace Hopper, noting she wrote the first implemented compiler and coined the term 'compiler' for her A-0 system. The instructor emphasizes that Hopper's system functioned as a loader or linker, not the modern notion of a compiler, underlining these specific phrases on the screen to clarify the distinction. He specifically underlines 'PhD thesis' and 'modern notion of a compiler' to ensure students understand the nuance between early systems and what we consider a compiler today. The visual aid includes a photo of Corrado Böhm and Grace Hopper in uniform.
2:00 – 2:35 02:00-02:35
The slide updates to discuss the first Autocode and compiler in the modern sense developed by Alick Glennie in 1952 at the University of Manchester for the Mark 1 computer. The instructor underlines Glennie's name and the year 1952. Finally, the lecture covers the FORTRAN team led by John W. Backus at IBM, who introduced the first commercially available compiler in 1957, noting it took 18 person-years to create, which the instructor underlines for emphasis. This section highlights the shift from academic research to commercial application, marking a pivotal moment in software development history. The slide features black and white photos of Alick Glennie and John Backus.
The video traces the evolution of compiler technology from early academic theses and loader systems to the first modern compilers and commercial products. It emphasizes the distinction between early implementations like Hopper's A-0 and the true modern compiler concept established by Glennie and Backus. This progression illustrates the maturation of programming tools from theoretical concepts to practical, industry-standard software.