- 1961: Fortran versus Algol Debate
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Fortran: inelegant language only of use to scientists
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Algol: modern language specified by experts ideal for university teaching and research
- English Electric (KDF9), Elliott (803,503) and Ferranti committed to supporting Algol
- Defence industry in US still machine coded their major systems!
- 1958: Aldermaston and Harwell decided to write all major codes in Fortran not machine code
- Reality was
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Algol
- Difficult to compile efficiently
- No standard for how reserved words would be represented
- Inability to sub-compile
- Lack of I/O statements
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Fortran
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Efficient compilation approaching machine coded in execution
- Good set of I/O data formats supported
- All Fortran systems allowed subroutines to be semi-compiled into relocatable binary machine instructions
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Major UK researchers familiar with Fortran via periods spent abroad
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Libraries of subroutines available in several disciplines
