Short Code (Computer language)
Encyclopedia
Short Code was one of the first higher-level languages ever developed for an electronic computer. Unlike machine code
, Short Code statements represented mathematic expressions rather than a machine instruction.
in 1949 and originally known as Brief Code. William Schmitt implemented a version of Brief Code in 1949 for the BINAC
computer, though it was never debugged and tested. The following year Schmitt implemented a new version of Brief Code for the UNIVAC I
where it was now known as Short Code (also Short Order Code). A revised version of Short Code was developed in 1952 for the Univac II by A. B. Tonik and J. R Logan.
While Short Code represented expressions, the representation itself was not direct and required a process of manual conversion. Elements of an expression were represented by two-character codes and then divided into 6-code groups in order to conform to the 12 byte words used by BINAC and Univac computers. For example the expression:
a = (b+c)/b*c
was converted to Short Code by a sequence of substitutions and a final regrouping:
X3 = ( X1 + Y1 ) / X1 * Y1 substitute variables
X3 03 09 X1 07 Y1 02 04 X1 Y1 substitute operators and parentheses.
Note multiplication is represented
by juxtaposition.
07Y10204X1Y1 group into 12-byte words.
0000X30309X1p0p90p;o;op;op;
Along with basic arithmetic
, Short Code allowed for branching and calls to a library of functions. The language was interpreted
and ran about 50 times slower than machine code
.
Machine code
Machine code or machine language is a system of impartible instructions executed directly by a computer's central processing unit. Each instruction performs a very specific task, typically either an operation on a unit of data Machine code or machine language is a system of impartible instructions...
, Short Code statements represented mathematic expressions rather than a machine instruction.
History
Short Code was proposed by John MauchlyJohn Mauchly
John William Mauchly was an American physicist who, along with J. Presper Eckert, designed ENIAC, the first general purpose electronic digital computer, as well as EDVAC, BINAC and UNIVAC I, the first commercial computer made in the United States.Together they started the first computer company,...
in 1949 and originally known as Brief Code. William Schmitt implemented a version of Brief Code in 1949 for the BINAC
BINAC
BINAC, the Binary Automatic Computer, was an early electronic computer designed for Northrop Aircraft Company by the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation in 1949. Eckert and Mauchly, though they had started the design of EDVAC at the University of Pennsylvania, chose to leave and start EMCC, the...
computer, though it was never debugged and tested. The following year Schmitt implemented a new version of Brief Code for the UNIVAC I
UNIVAC I
The UNIVAC I was the first commercial computer produced in the United States. It was designed principally by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly, the inventors of the ENIAC...
where it was now known as Short Code (also Short Order Code). A revised version of Short Code was developed in 1952 for the Univac II by A. B. Tonik and J. R Logan.
While Short Code represented expressions, the representation itself was not direct and required a process of manual conversion. Elements of an expression were represented by two-character codes and then divided into 6-code groups in order to conform to the 12 byte words used by BINAC and Univac computers. For example the expression:
a = (b+c)/b*c
was converted to Short Code by a sequence of substitutions and a final regrouping:
X3 = ( X1 + Y1 ) / X1 * Y1 substitute variables
X3 03 09 X1 07 Y1 02 04 X1 Y1 substitute operators and parentheses.
Note multiplication is represented
by juxtaposition.
07Y10204X1Y1 group into 12-byte words.
0000X30309X1p0p90p;o;op;op;
Along with basic arithmetic
Arithmetic
Arithmetic or arithmetics is the oldest and most elementary branch of mathematics, used by almost everyone, for tasks ranging from simple day-to-day counting to advanced science and business calculations. It involves the study of quantity, especially as the result of combining numbers...
, Short Code allowed for branching and calls to a library of functions. The language was interpreted
Interpreter (computing)
In computer science, an interpreter normally means a computer program that executes, i.e. performs, instructions written in a programming language...
and ran about 50 times slower than machine code
Machine code
Machine code or machine language is a system of impartible instructions executed directly by a computer's central processing unit. Each instruction performs a very specific task, typically either an operation on a unit of data Machine code or machine language is a system of impartible instructions...
.