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John W. Backus passed away

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impeachgod
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26 Mar 2007, 10:17 am

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/20/business/20backus.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

For those who don't know, he was the inventor of FORTRAN, one of the first programming languages and the oldest still in use today. He also co-developed Backus Naur Form, a notation for grammar and promoted functional programming.

RIP.



Jameson
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26 Mar 2007, 10:50 am

He will be missed.

Makes me want to get back to roots and learn Fortran.


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larsenjw92286
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26 Mar 2007, 1:14 pm

Is he any relation to Jim Backus, who played the Professor on Gilligan's Island?


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UnclScrewtape
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04 Apr 2007, 10:21 pm

I tried learning FORTRAN.... the only language I hated more was C++



hyperbolic
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04 Apr 2007, 10:47 pm

:(



calandale
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05 Apr 2007, 4:18 am

Knew the name was familiar. Just found a book on FORTRAN IV today. Serrendipitous.