About this episode

This episode explores the unique programming language SNOBOL and its historical significance in computing.

Today we are talking about one of the most unique languages I've ever come across. SNOBOL emerges from the early days of programming. It's first compiler is implemented on the back of an envelope. It only has one data type, and only one format for every line of code. It's the bane of Chester, and center of an office drama! What's not to love? Selected sources: https://dl.acm.org/doi/epdf/10.1145/960118.808393 - Griswold's history of SNOBOL https://dl.acm.org/doi/epdf/10.1145/321203.321207 - THE SNOBOL1 Paper

People in this episode

Host: Sean Haas

Topics covered

• programming languages
• history of computing
• SNOBOL
• early programming
• office drama

Keywords

• SNOBOL
• programming
• history
• computing
• language

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: SNOBOL

Books & works: Griswold's history of SNOBOL, THE SNOBOL1 Paper

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