evolution of programing

[jim1975]

can anyone help me with explaining the evolution of programing languages and the factors that have driven the move towards visual enviroments. any websites that would be helpful would be good as well.
thanks jim

[szlamany]

Forget everything about programming languages - they are simply layers on top of a "chip" on a motherboard.

MACHINE CODE is what the "chip" understands.

ASSEMBLER talks in MACHINE CODE with the "chip".

Read up on MACHINE CODE/ASSEMBLER - I'm not talking details of how to use it - but generalities about what it is.

After 50+ years of computer evolution, the layers on top of the "chip" are so deep that it's hard for non-programmers (and even many programmers) to even grasp what is going on in a computer.

[Jmacp]

The main factor thats brought the visual environ's is $$.

Visual Basic and the RAD Environ's/Launguages are easy to grasp compared to say Assmebler hence more bucks for Microsoft and co.

Also it allows for quicker program creation, only down side being that the code has to take a few more paths before it hits the CPU and hence applications will be slower.

Can't really say industry is a factor as the launguages have created the IT industry. So its really all about money. If you really want to understand you should read up on Bill Gates on his younger years see how determind he was to become rich and basically dominate the whole computing software market.