2007/06/06 by Niklaus Wirth · 2 citations
Computer Science · Engineering · #Embedded Systems Design Techniques #Logic, programming, and type systems #Modular Robots and Swarm Intelligence
paper · doi:10.1145/1238844.1238847
openalex publication_date 2007/06/06 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
This is an account of the development of the languages Modula-2 and Oberon. Together with their ancestors ALGOL 60 and Pascal they form a family called Algol-like languages. Pascal (1970) reflected the ideas of structured programming, Modula-2 (1979) added those of modular system design, and Oberon (1988) catered to the object-oriented style. Thus they mirror the essential programming paradigms of the past decades. Here the major language properties are outlined, followed by an account of the respective implementation efforts. The conditions and the environments in which the languages were created are elucidated. We point out that simplicity of design was the most essential guiding principle. Clarity of concepts, economy of features, efficiency and reliability of implementations were its consequences.