THIRD GENERATION COMPUTERS
Third Generation Languages (3GL)
During the period of 1964 to 1971 Third generation computers were developed. The third generation computers emerged with the development of IC (Integrated Circuits). The invention of the IC was the greatest achievement done in the period of third generation of computers. IC was invented by Robert Noyce and Jack Kilby in 1958-59. IC is a single component containing a number of transistors. Transistors were miniaturized and placed on silicon chips, called semiconductors, which drastically increased the speed and efficiency of computers.
Keyboards and monitors developed during the period of third generation of computers. The third generation computers interfaced with an operating system, which allowed the device to run many different applications at one time with a central program that monitored the memory.
CHARACTERISTICS
1) IC was used instead of transistors in the third generation computers.
2) Third generation computers were smaller in size and cheaper as compare to the second generation computers.
3) They were fast and more reliable.
4) High level language was developed.
5) Magnetic core and solid states as main storage.
6) They were able to reduce computational time and had low maintenance cost.
7) Input/Output devices became more sophisticated.
Keyboards and monitors developed during the period of third generation of computers. The third generation computers interfaced with an operating system, which allowed the device to run many different applications at one time with a central program that monitored the memory.
CHARACTERISTICS
1) IC was used instead of transistors in the third generation computers.
2) Third generation computers were smaller in size and cheaper as compare to the second generation computers.
3) They were fast and more reliable.
4) High level language was developed.
5) Magnetic core and solid states as main storage.
6) They were able to reduce computational time and had low maintenance cost.
7) Input/Output devices became more sophisticated.
Third Generation Languages (3GL)
By the late 50s and early 60s, the computer industry was in full production. Many large and medium businesses as well as most universities and government departments were installing computers. Along with this boom came a crucial period often called the Software Crisis. While advances had been made in writing software such as assemblers, every computer system still required custom written software. There simply were not enough programmers and time to do it all. The solution: develop a faster way of writing and debugging software.
Leading thinkers such as Alick Glennie and Grace Hopper realize that they could extend the concept of the Assembler even further. The result was a series of computer programs (compilers) that translated high-level programming languages into machine code.
These high-level or 3GLs are characterized by their use of English-like commands in place of the obscure codes of Assembly languages. Each line of code in a 3GL often corresponds to many lines of machine code. These are often called procedural languages because the programmer must develop a clear logic to carry out each procedure within the program. Since 3GLs are portable or machine independent, international standards have often been developed. This has greatly simplified the training and preparation that software engineers need.
Some of the most significant 3GLs are:
- FORTRAN: Developed in 1957 by a team headed by John Backus, Fortran was designed for scientists and engineers. It is geared to make programming mathematical formula quick and easy.
- COBOL: By 1959, the business community had their own programming language designed to handle business processes.
- PL/1: (Programming Language /1) was an attempt in the mid-60s to develop a language that could satisfy the needs of both the business and scientific communities. It combines the ease of writing formulas of Fortran with the string handling features of Cobol.
- BASIC: (Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) Late in 1963, John Kemeney and Thomas Kurtz sat down and began to develop a new programming language written from the point of view of the user. It was designed to be easy to learn, more accessible to the user and accessible so that the average person might be able to write programs. By May 1st, 1964 with a lot of help from their students BASIC was born.
- Pascal: (named after the French mathematician, Blaise Pascal) from '68 to '72 Niklaus Wirth developed Pascal to provide his students (and others) with a relatively easy to learn language that maintained the principles of structured programming.
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