# ABC

> node js

**Wikidata**: [Q1057802](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1057802)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABC_(programming_language))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/abc

## Summary
ABC is a procedural programming language developed in the Netherlands by Lambert Meertens and Steven Pemberton at Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica. It was designed as an alternative simple language and environment for PCs, with strong typing and polymorphism as its typing discipline.

## Key Facts
- Inception: 1975
- Developers: Lambert Meertens and Steven Pemberton
- Country of origin: Netherlands
- Influenced by: SETL
- Typing discipline: strong typing, polymorphism
- Instance of: programming language, procedural programming language, off-side rule language
- Website: https://homepages.cwi.nl/~steven/abc/ (English)
- Freebase ID: /m/012whz
- Library of Congress authority ID: sh91000454

## FAQs
### Q: What is ABC programming language?
A: ABC is a procedural programming language developed in 1975 by Lambert Meertens and Steven Pemberton at Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica in the Netherlands. It features strong typing, polymorphism, and was designed as a simple language and environment for PCs.

### Q: Who created ABC programming language?
A: ABC was designed by Lambert Meertens and Steven Pemberton, both computer scientists at Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica in the Netherlands.

### Q: What programming paradigms does ABC support?
A: ABC supports procedural programming, imperative programming, and structured programming paradigms.

## Why It Matters
ABC represents an important milestone in programming language design as a simplified, educational language that influenced later developments in the field. Created in the mid-1970s at Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica, it was designed to be an alternative simple language and environment for PCs, making programming more accessible. Its strong typing and polymorphism features, along with its off-side rule syntax, contributed to the evolution of programming language concepts. Though not as widely adopted as some contemporaries, ABC's design principles and approach to simplicity influenced later language development, including aspects that would later appear in Python, which was created by Guido van Rossum, who was familiar with ABC's design philosophy.

## Notable For
- Strong typing and polymorphism as core features
- Off-side rule syntax for code structure
- Designed as a simple language and environment for PCs
- Influenced by SETL language
- Created by prominent computer scientists Lambert Meertens and Steven Pemberton

## Body
### Development and Origins
ABC was developed at Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) in the Netherlands, a research center known for contributions to computer science. The language was created by Lambert Meertens and Steven Pemberton, both prominent figures in the field. Meertens, born in 1944, is a Dutch computer scientist and politician, while Pemberton, born in 1953, is a British-Dutch computer scientist.

### Technical Characteristics
The language implements strong typing and polymorphism as its typing discipline, ensuring type safety and flexible code reuse. ABC follows the off-side rule for code structure, similar to Python's indentation-based syntax. It supports procedural, imperative, and structured programming paradigms, making it versatile for various programming tasks.

### Design Philosophy
ABC was specifically designed as "An Alternative Simple Language and Environment for PCs," emphasizing simplicity and ease of use. This philosophy aimed to make programming more accessible to a broader audience, particularly for personal computer users who might not have extensive programming experience.

### Documentation and Resources
The language is documented in "The ABC Programmer's Handbook," which serves as the primary reference for users. The official website, maintained in English, provides additional resources and information about the language.

### Legacy and Influence
While ABC itself did not achieve widespread commercial adoption, its design principles influenced later programming languages. The language's emphasis on simplicity and readability can be seen in subsequent language designs, particularly in educational and scripting languages.

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