Seven Obscure Languages in Seven Weeks

Rediscovering the Tools That Built the Future

by Dmitry Zinoviev

Immerse yourself in the intricate world of forgotten programming languages with Seven Obscure Languages in Seven Weeks. This comprehensive guide serves as a bridge to understanding and revitalizing legacy code, offering invaluable insights into the evolution of programming. With hands-on tutorials spanning languages from Forth and Simula to SNOBOL and m4, readers are equipped to maintain older systems and gain a broader perspective on problem-solving techniques. Whether you are a seasoned developer, a software historian, or just curious about the roots of modern coding, this book illuminates the rich tapestry of programming’s past and sheds light on its present and future.

Venture into overlooked and long-forgotten programming languages that once stood at the forefront of technological innovation. From the stack-oriented design of Forth to the early object-oriented experiences in Simula, bridge the ever-widening chasm between contemporary code and legacy systems. If you find yourself ensnared by the challenges of updating or maintaining older systems, this book is the lifeline.

Unravel the fabric of seven programming languages by following practical tutorials and building small applications. Find out how Simula led to C++ , what made APL so powerful, and why we still use m4 even to this day. Along the way, you’ll broaden your problem-solving horizons, and develop diverse approaches to computation that still ripple through today’s coding landscape. By the final chapter, you won’t merely possess historical knowledge, you’ll be equipped with production ready skills capable of tackling projects that interface with legacy code.

Trace the evolutionary lineage of programming to gain a predictive edge in anticipating future trends. After all, this isn’t just a nostalgic trip—it’s a roadmap to the past, present, and future of coding.

• Errata, typos, suggestions

• Source Code (zip file)

Releases:

• B2.0 2024/04/04
• B1.0 2024/02/14

Note: Contents and extracts of beta books will change as the book is developed.

• Preface
• Introduction
  • About the Languages
  • About the Tips
  • About You
  • About the Software
  • Writing Something Big
  • Further Reading
  • What to Do Next?
• Mastering Stack-Based Computing with Forth
  • Understanding Stack Essentials
  • Writing Comments and ``Hello, World!’’
  • Learning Predefined Forth Words
  • Dissecting Flow Control
  • Discovering Recursion
  • Arriving to Memory Operations
  • Demystifying Vectored Execution
  • Handling Errors and Exceptions
  • Exploring Character and String Operations
  • Performing Input/Output Operations
  • Writing Something Big
  • Further Reading
• Appreciating Concurrent Computing with Occam
  • Paying Tribute to Transputer
  • Greeting in Occam and KRoC excerpt
  • Studying Variables and Data Types
  • Navigating Channels
  • Exploring Processes
  • Taming Construction Processes
  • Revisiting Deadlocks
  • Introducing Arrays
  • Crafting Channel Protocols
  • Arranging Code in Compilation Units
  • Replicating Processes
  • Terminating a Distributed Application
  • Configuring Occam Programs
  • Writing Something Big
  • Further Reading
• Embracing Array-Centric Programming with APL excerpt
  • Deciphering APL Character Set
  • Activating the APL Keyboard Layout
  • Looking at Data Types
  • Executing Scalar Operations
  • Mastering Array Operations
  • Performing Input and Output
  • Creating User-Defined Functions
  • Branching
  • Adding More Array Operations
  • Working with Workspaces
  • Writing Something Big
  • Further Reading
• Unveiling Object-Oriented Programming with Simula excerpt
  • It’s ALGOL!
  • Glancing at Variables, Data Types, and Operators
  • Investigating Control Structures
  • Introducing Procedures
  • Managing File I/O
  • It’s Simula!
  • Switching to Object-Oriented Programming
  • Designing Coroutines
  • Introducing Computer Simulation
  • Writing Something Big
  • Further Reading
• Unlocking Text Manipulation with SNOBOL
  • Writing Something Big
  • Further Reading
• Manipulating Set-Based Databases with Starset
  • Subroutines
  • Loops
  • Writing Something Big
  • Further Reading
• Automating Text Manipulation and Code Generation with M4
  • Writing Something Big
  • Further Reading
• Broadening Horizons: A Glimpse into More Obscure Languages
  • REFAL
  • Smalltalk
  • Miranda
  • CLU
  • PostScript
  • Further Reading