In simplest terms, a computer program language is a language created to command a computer to perform a specific function. Programmers use these languages, of which there are many, to develop scripts, applications, and instructions, which, in turn, create games, programs, web applications, virtually any function that a computer performs. There are a couple thousand computer programs, and none of them is capable of doing all things necessary for a computer to do…what a computer does. One language may tell a computer how to process codes coming in, another may allow the computer to interact with another computer, one may show the computer how to perform hard drive data recovery and yet another language may be used to allow email to be read by the computer and translated in a language the user can understand. The first computer program languages actually began to be used first in player pianos and in looms, before computers became commonplace.

There have been many elementary languages used ever since the invention of the difference engine in 1822, created by Charles Babbage. Computers need instructions to know how to act. They need a language. However, the first widely used, sophisticated computer language was FORTRAN, or the FORmula TRANslating system, designed at IBM. This language used primarly IF, THEN, and GOTO, instructions, but it was a revolutionary concept at the time and was a huge leap in scientific computing. However, in 1959, only two years later, a need for a language better designed for business computing demanded the creation of COBOL. The ALGOL language, created in 1958, was significant due to the fact that it was thought to be the basis for many other important languages such as Pascal, C, C++, and Java. Java became a very important internet and web tool and is a familiar name even to novice computer users. File recovery software is also important in order that businesses feel secure and will always have their documents at their disposal.

As previously stated, there are thousands of computer languages in use today, some widely known, some more obscure. Languages such as SiMPLE, the Sheer Idiot’s Monopurpose Programming Linguistic Environment, the language that even a child can progam with, and Sartre, the unstructured language, had their fans and their followers, for obvious reasons. They were fun, they served a particular purpose, and they were outside the realm. On the other end of the spectrum are esoteric languages, created not to provide a real function but as a joke. Such a program was Brainfuck, an esoteric, minimalist, completely legitimate language created by Urban Muller in the 1990’s. However, Brainfuck is, indeed, a compiler similar to C++.

The average computer user most likely has no idea the number of programmers were involved and the number of languages that were used to make his session run smoothly. Each time he turns on the computer, each time he surfs the net, each time he downloads a photograph, each time he performs a hard drive recovery, each time he emails or IM’s or twitters, many languages are used. Thousands have been created since the first computer, since before the first computer. Some provide legitimate functions, some only serve to amuse the creator or the user of the application. But one thing seems certain, there will be many, many more computer languages to come.

* http://www.mediavue.net/programming/programming_languages.html: provides a list of computer programs used by the computer company MVI, and there are brief descriptions of each language and its use following the list. The descriptions include a history of the language as well as the particular use of each language. It gives the reader a basic understanding of how each language is used for particular, specific functions.

* http://homepage.cs.uri.edu/faculty/wolfe/book/Readings/Reading13.htm: outlines the duties of a programmer and promotes advantages of a career in programming. However, it also gives a history of computer programming as well as a detailed explanation of some of the more popular programming languages.

* http://www.devtopics.com/category/languages-obscure/: is the site for obscure computer language of the month. Though this newsletter is not truly updated on a monthly basis, it does update frequently with little-known computer languages and their uses. The description gives roots of the language as well as pros and cons.

* http://www.dmoz.org/Computers/Programming/Languages/: gives a very thorough list of computer program languages with a link to each. Also, categories are given so that programmers can choose the function and find a list of applicable programs with a brief description following each.

* http://www.dangermouse.net/esoteric/: Purely functional esoteric languages created by the designer “DangerMouse,” makes for fun reading.