# COMTRAN

> Proposed programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q5013384](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5013384)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COMTRAN)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/comtran

## Summary
COMTRAN (Commercial Translator) is a proposed procedural programming language developed in 1957 by American computer scientist Bob Bemer. It is classified as a programming language designed to communicate instructions to a machine and was notably influenced by the FLOW-MATIC language system.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: COMTRAN was developed in 1957.
- **Creator**: The language was created by Bob Bemer, an American computer scientist and aerospace engineer (1920–2004).
- **Classification**: It is categorized as both a programming language and a procedural programming language.
- **Alternative Names**: It is also known as "Commercial Translator" and "Picture Clause."
- **Influences**: The development of COMTRAN was influenced by FLOW-MATIC.
- **Programming Paradigm**: The language follows the procedural programming paradigm.

## FAQs
### Q: What is COMTRAN?
A: COMTRAN is a proposed procedural programming language created in 1957. Its name stands for Commercial Translator.

### Q: Who created COMTRAN?
A: COMTRAN was created by Bob Bemer, an American computer scientist and aerospace engineer.

### Q: What language influenced COMTRAN?
A: COMTRAN was influenced by FLOW-MATIC, an early programming language.

## Why It Matters
COMTRAN represents a specific historical effort in the evolution of computer science during the late 1950s. As a proposed language developed by Bob Bemer—a significant figure in computing history known for his work in aerospace and as a computer scientist—it reflects the early industry push toward creating standardized methods for commercial translation and procedural instruction. While it is described as a "proposed" language, its existence highlights the rapid development and experimentation with high-level languages following the introduction of predecessors like FLOW-MATIC. Its association with Bemer places it among the foundational works that sought to make machines more accessible for commercial and engineering tasks.

## Notable For
- Being an early proposed procedural programming language established in 1957.
- Creation by Bob Bemer, a prominent American computer scientist.
- Its direct lineage from FLOW-MATIC, linking it to the early history of English-like programming languages.
- Its specific designation as a "Commercial Translator," indicating its intended utility in business computing.

## Body
### Development and Creator
COMTRAN was conceived in 1957 by Bob Bemer. Bemer, an American computer scientist and aerospace engineer born in 1920, is credited as the sole developer and creator. The project is referenced in academic and encyclopedic sources, notably identified by its Microsoft Academic ID and Wikidata entries.

### Technical Classification
The language is strictly defined as a **procedural programming language**. This means it was designed based on the concept of the procedure call, allowing instructions to be communicated to a machine in a structured, step-by-step manner. It falls under the broad umbrella of programming languages but is specifically tailored to procedural paradigms.

### Historical Context and Influences
The design and conceptualization of COMTRAN were directly influenced by **FLOW-MATIC**, a programming language that served as a predecessor. The inception date of 1957 places COMTRAN in a pivotal era of computing history, occurring roughly a year after Bemer's birth year references in associated records and solidly within the "silver age" of compiler development. The language is also referred to by the alias "Picture Clause" in structured property data.