* FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslator) (1957): While not the first language, FORTRAN is often considered a pioneer of procedure-oriented programming. It introduced features like subroutines (functions) and control flow statements that are central to procedural programming.
* ALGOL 58 (1958): This language is significant for its emphasis on structured programming concepts, which influenced later procedure-oriented languages.
* COBOL (COmmon Business Oriented Language) (1959): Designed for business applications, COBOL is notable for its English-like syntax and its focus on data processing, making it a popular choice for businesses.
What Makes These Languages Procedure-Oriented?
Procedure-oriented languages revolve around the concept of procedures (or functions) as the primary building blocks of a program. They follow a step-by-step approach, where instructions are executed sequentially:
* Sequential Execution: Instructions are executed in a predefined order.
* Procedures: Programs are divided into smaller, reusable units called procedures or functions.
* Data and Procedures Separated: Data and procedures are treated as distinct entities.
It's important to remember that programming languages evolved continuously, and these early languages paved the way for later, more refined procedure-oriented languages like Pascal, C, and others.
Let me know if you'd like to explore any of these languages further!