John Backus Releases FORTRAN

Conceived in 1954, the programming language of early computer art, Fortran (FORMula TRANslator) is one of the oldest high-level programming languages. It made code more comprehensible to scientists, mathematicians and, of course, artists.

Originally developed by IBM, it became the first computer language standard and is one of the most influential software products in history. It is still in use today.

Fortran was also essential to the early development of computer art. Early pioneers like Vera Molnár, Manfred Mohr and many others used the language to create algorithmic art in the 1960s and 1970s.

The Victoria and Albert Museum on Fortran:

“Fortran is used in works including Dominic Boreham’s IM21 (B5) P0.5 3.X.79. Early computer programmes were stored on punched cards, including Manfred Mohr’s P032 (Matrix Elements). Written by the artist in Fortran, this programme instructed a plotter device to produce the drawing P-32 (Matrix Elements).”