It was a simple Pascal-like language (actually, the predecessor to Pascal) meant for expressing mathematical algorithms. The uglier language Fortran was already being used for this, and had the support of IBM, so Algol 60 never really took off. Many systems programming extensions of Algol were created in the 60s, notably by Burroughs Corporation, which merged with Sperry Corporation in 1986 to form the Unisys Corporation. Unisys continues to produce mainframe computers that run the MCP operating system, for which systems programming and application programming are still widely done in Algol 60 derived languages such as NEWP, Algol, DCAlgol, and DMAlgol.
The first ProgrammingLanguage with a context-free grammar (BackusNaurForm was invented to describe it). Introduced static scoping.
A general purpose successor to Algol 60 designed by a committee over many years -- too many years. History passed it by and the end result was considered too complex to implement efficiently on computers of the day, although the few programmers who did get to use it love it.
Introduced augmented assignment (+= -= *= /= etc).
By CharlesAntonyRichardHoare and NicolasWirth (the "W" in "Algol W"). Not very widely used, but influential on later languages in its features; Pascal often gets credit for invention of a number of things that actually appeared first in Algol-W or other languages.
Introduced case/switch statement invented by CharlesAntonyRichardHoare (he says his proudest invention), which is characterized by a sequence of non-ordered non-overlapping values/ranges (as opposed to the primitive Algol-60 goto-switch or Lisp's cond). Introduced passing parameters by value-result (a.k.a. in-out parameters).
See also:
MARST, an Algol to C translator.Algol 68 G interpreter.Algol68 skillzPart of CategoryProgrammingLanguages, CategoryImperativeProgrammingLanguages
3 pages link to Algol:
