When I first started programming, the only language available to me was Fortran. I punched cards with my code and later received back a print-out with [mostly] error messages. I was always intrigued by being able to program a computer in such a straightforward way. I understood what assembly language or even machine code was all about, but felt that high level languages had a mystique. In due course, while still at university, I tried out any other languages that were available: BASIC, BCPL, Simula, SNOBOL 4, Algol W and I am sure there were others.

When I graduated and found myself in the “real world”, moving towards embedded programming, I found that a selection of languages was still on offer … (more…)