# COMAL

> programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q1023991](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1023991)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COMAL)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/comal

## Summary
COMAL is a strongly typed, procedural programming language created in 1975, designed for structured programming. It is classified as both a general-purpose programming language and a procedural language, with influences from earlier languages and a presence in multiple Wikipedia editions.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: COMAL was created in 1975.
- **Classification**: It is an instance of a *programming language* and a *procedural programming language*.
- **Typing Discipline**: COMAL employs *strong typing*.
- **Programming Paradigm**: It supports *structured programming* and *procedural programming*.
- **Wikipedia Presence**: The language has Wikipedia articles in 13 languages: Arabic (ar), Danish (da), German (de), English (en), Spanish (es), Persian (fa), Irish (ga), Italian (it), Dutch (nl), Norwegian (no), Polish (pl), Swedish (sv), and Ukrainian (uk).
- **Identifiers**:
  - Wikidata lexeme ID: `Comal`
  - Freebase ID: `/m/01c2ld`
  - Library of Congress Authority ID: `sh85028784`
  - National Library of Israel J9U ID: `987007284728905171`
- **Sitelink Count**: 13 (Wikidata).
- **Influences**: COMAL was influenced by earlier programming languages (specific influences not detailed in provided data).
- **Platform Presence**: Listed in the C64 Wiki and Google Play Store under the identifier `Comal`.

## FAQs

**What type of programming language is COMAL?**
COMAL is a *procedural programming language* that follows *structured programming* principles. It is strongly typed, meaning it enforces strict data type rules to reduce errors.

**When was COMAL created?**
COMAL was developed in *1975*, as documented in Wikidata with a reference to the Library of Congress.

**In how many languages is COMAL documented on Wikipedia?**
COMAL has Wikipedia articles in *13 languages*, including English, German, Spanish, and Arabic, indicating its international recognition.

**What are the key identifiers for COMAL in databases?**
COMAL is indexed under multiple authority systems:
- Wikidata lexeme ID: `Comal`
- Freebase ID: `/m/01c2ld`
- Library of Congress Authority ID: `sh85028784`
- National Library of Israel J9U ID: `987007284728905171`

**Is COMAL still relevant today?**
While the provided data does not specify current usage statistics, its presence in modern platforms like the *Google Play Store* and its documentation in multiple languages suggest ongoing relevance in niche or educational contexts.

## Why It Matters
COMAL represents an important milestone in the evolution of *procedural* and *structured programming languages*. As a strongly typed language introduced in 1975, it contributed to the formalization of programming practices that emphasized clarity, modularity, and error reduction. Its inclusion in educational and hobbyist platforms (e.g., C64 Wiki) highlights its role in making programming more accessible during the early microcomputer era. Additionally, its multilingual Wikipedia presence underscores its global influence, serving as a bridge between theoretical computer science and practical application.

## Notable For
- **Early Adoption of Strong Typing**: COMAL was designed with strong typing, a feature that enhances program reliability by preventing type-related errors.
- **Structured Programming Support**: It was one of the languages that formalized structured programming techniques, improving code readability and maintainability.
- **Educational Use**: Its presence in platforms like the C64 Wiki suggests it was used in educational settings, particularly during the 1980s microcomputer boom.
- **Multilingual Documentation**: With Wikipedia articles in 13 languages, COMAL has a documented global reach, indicating its adoption beyond English-speaking regions.
- **Influence on Later Languages**: While specific influences are not detailed, its classification as a procedural language places it in the lineage of languages that shaped modern programming paradigms.

## Body

### **History and Development**
COMAL was created in *1975*, a period marked by the rise of structured programming and the transition from assembly-level coding to higher-level languages. It emerged alongside other procedural languages, aiming to provide a more accessible and structured approach to programming. The language was designed to be strongly typed, which meant that variables were strictly bound to their data types, reducing runtime errors and improving code robustness.

### **Classification and Paradigms**
COMAL is classified as both a *programming language* and a *procedural programming language*. Procedural programming focuses on writing a sequence of instructions that tell the computer what to do step-by-step, a paradigm that dominated early software development. Additionally, COMAL supports *structured programming*, a methodology that emphasizes the use of subroutines, loops, and conditional statements to create more organized and maintainable code.

### **Technical Features**
- **Strong Typing**: COMAL enforces strict data type rules, requiring variables to be declared with specific types (e.g., integer, string) before use. This reduces type-related bugs and makes programs more predictable.
- **Structured Constructs**: The language includes features like loops (`FOR`, `WHILE`), conditionals (`IF-THEN-ELSE`), and procedures, aligning with structured programming principles.
- **Procedural Nature**: Programs in COMAL are written as a series of procedures or functions, promoting modularity and reusability.

### **Documentation and Global Reach**
COMAL’s documentation spans *13 languages* on Wikipedia, including:
- **European Languages**: Danish, German, English, Spanish, Irish, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish.
- **Middle Eastern Languages**: Arabic, Persian.
- **Slavic Languages**: Ukrainian.

This multilingual presence indicates that COMAL was not only used in English-speaking countries but also gained traction in educational and hobbyist circles worldwide.

### **Platforms and Identifiers**
- **C64 Wiki**: COMAL is listed in the *C64 Wiki*, a resource dedicated to the Commodore 64, suggesting its use on this popular 1980s home computer.
- **Google Play Store**: The language has an entry in the Google Play Store under the identifier `Comal`, hinting at modern adaptations or emulators.
- **Library and Authority IDs**:
  - **Library of Congress Authority ID**: `sh85028784` (referenced in 2019).
  - **National Library of Israel J9U ID**: `987007284728905171`.
  - **Freebase ID**: `/m/01c2ld` (last updated in 2013).

### **Influences and Legacy**
While the provided data does not specify which languages directly influenced COMAL, its design aligns with the broader movement toward structured and procedural programming in the 1970s. Languages like Pascal, ALGOL, and BASIC likely played a role in shaping its syntax and features. COMAL, in turn, may have influenced later educational languages by demonstrating the benefits of strong typing and structured constructs in a beginner-friendly context.

### **Community and Usage**
Though the source material does not provide details on active user communities or modern usage statistics, COMAL’s presence in platforms like the C64 Wiki and Google Play Store suggests it retains niche interest. Its strong typing and structured approach make it a candidate for retrocomputing enthusiasts, educators teaching programming fundamentals, or historians studying the evolution of programming languages.

### **Related Entities**
- **Procedural Programming Languages**: COMAL is part of a broader class that includes languages like C, Pascal, and FORTRAN.
- **Structured Programming**: It shares principles with languages that emphasize control structures over unstructured jumps (e.g., `GOTO` statements).
- **Commodore 64 Ecosystem**: Its listing in the C64 Wiki ties it to the home computing revolution of the 1980s.

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File