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Cyhist Apr 14 1997 A
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Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 14:57:35 -0500
Reply-To: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> Sender: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> From: "David S. Bennahum" <davidsol@panix.com>
Subject: CM> Origins: fourth generation programming languages?
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Community Memory: Discussion List on the History of Cyberspace ______________________________________________________________________
A few nights ago, I was listening to a friend of mine describe "fourth generation computer languages." He said HTML, Macromedia Director, and Foxpro were examples of "fourth generation" languages. I am not sure what this means. What is the definition of a "fourth generation" programming language? What are the characteristics of the first three generation languages? Why is this terminology useful? What are its origins?
The reason my friend used the term fourth generation was to describe computer languages which handle much of the behind-the-scenes work automatically, while the person programming focuses on, say in Director, animating the image, without worrying how the pixels are rendered, for instance. Is this an accurate characteristic of what makes a programming "language" (or "environment," maybe is more accurate) a "fourth generation"? Is someone using a 4th-gen language "programming" or "scripting"? Is there a difference between the two?
Thanks.
best,
db
CM Moderator
______________________________________________________________________
Reply-To: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> Sender: "CYHIST Community Memory: Discussion list on the History of
Cyberspace" <CYHIST@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU> From: "David S. Bennahum" <davidsol@panix.com>
Subject: CM> Origins: fourth generation programming languages?
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
______________________________________________________________________
Community Memory: Discussion List on the History of Cyberspace ______________________________________________________________________
A few nights ago, I was listening to a friend of mine describe "fourth generation computer languages." He said HTML, Macromedia Director, and Foxpro were examples of "fourth generation" languages. I am not sure what this means. What is the definition of a "fourth generation" programming language? What are the characteristics of the first three generation languages? Why is this terminology useful? What are its origins?
The reason my friend used the term fourth generation was to describe computer languages which handle much of the behind-the-scenes work automatically, while the person programming focuses on, say in Director, animating the image, without worrying how the pixels are rendered, for instance. Is this an accurate characteristic of what makes a programming "language" (or "environment," maybe is more accurate) a "fourth generation"? Is someone using a 4th-gen language "programming" or "scripting"? Is there a difference between the two?
Thanks.
best,
db
CM Moderator
______________________________________________________________________
