Now that you have an idea about how to set a program up, what language should you use? Here are but a few of the many available...

• FORTRAN - FORmula TRANslator. Introduced in the mid-1950s primarily for scientific use.
• COBOL - COmmon Business-Oriented Language. 1959 introduction for easy to read business programs.
• BASIC - Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. Easy to learn language, a standard in most microcomputers.
• Ada - Named after Lady Augusta Ada Lovelace (worked with Babbage). A "do everything" language and DoD standard.
• LISP - LISt Processor. Often used for artificial intelligence applications.
• Pascal - Named after Blaise Pascal the French mathematician. A highly structured, relatively simple language.
• C - A powerful language used by many for most everything.

Endnotes

The preceding information should form a basis for understanding the logical steps necessary to write structured programs. The actual syntax of various procedures and functions in the language you choose may be different than you've seen here, but the ideas should hold true.

In all cases, when programming (whatever the language) be certain you remember the five steps to a good program:

• Define the problem - Make clear statements
• Plan the solution - Create a logical outline
• Code the program - Use the language
• Test the program - Try everything
• Document everything - Use comments and write a manual

Programming isn't hard, it just takes work!

...The End...

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