Programming is sometimes considered a lengthy process. It is associated with repetition, incomprehensible lines of letters and numbers, and an endless view of the computer. What is lost in such assumptions is that coding can be a cool, fun, and creative process. We would like to present you with some fascinating facts about this technological language.
1. There are more than 700 different programming languages! When you think of coding languages, you're likely to effortlessly take a handful, from JavaScript to Python and more.
2. The first programming language in the world was called FORTRAN (an acronym for Formula Translation), and it was created in 1956. The team who created it, led by Mr. John Backus, started working on it in 1954.
3. The first person in the world to hold the title of the coder was a woman named Ada Lovelace. She was born in 1815, and some people believe that Ada published the very first algorithm to execute a machine. "My brain is more than just mortal; as time will tell," Ada wrote.
4. Behind coding is almost everything that is powered by electricity. The codes are all around us. However, the first computer did not use any electricity because it was an automated, mechanical loom called the Jacquard loom.
5. The first "computer bug" was named because of an actual bug. Grace Hopper found this bug or a moth. The Harvard Mark II computer she was building started to fail when she discovered a real bug in the system. Since then, when something fails in software or hardware, we call it a "bug."
6. Computer codes played an important role in ending World War II. Thanks to his cryptological and mathematical abilities, the English computer scientist Alan Turing was able to decipher the Nazi coding machine ENIGMA. The information he and his team provided at Bletchley Park saved many lives. His contribution to modern computer technology was rewarded with the appointment of the annual prize awarded by the Association for Computer Technology (ACM) with the Turing Prize. This award is given to "an individual selected for contributions of a technical nature to the computer community."
7. The first computer virus was created by a 15-year-old man in 1982. It was designed to affect Apple II computers. The author described it as "some stupid little practical joke". The first computer virus was not designed to be harmful at all. A practical joke is made in history.
8. Astronomers need to know how to code. In fact, they use various programming languages to process the measurements made and also to develop simulations of astrophysical phenomena.
9. Smartphones run on more code than NASA’s computers in 1969. This means that the code that sent the man to space was less complex than the code that runs your smartphone.
10. Coding leads to great cognitive advantages. Learning how to code can improve your analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, creative thinking, computational thinking, and leadership skills, even teamwork.
Coding is more than just a career of the future. It is an interesting, exciting, and creative profession. Let us know if there are any other great facts about coding that you know about!