# ELAN

> educational programming language for learning and teaching systematic programming

**Wikidata**: [Q1275046](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1275046)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ELAN_(programming_language))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/elan-q1275046

## Summary
ELAN is an educational programming language specifically designed for learning and teaching systematic programming. Developed in 1974 by Cornelis H. A. Koster at the Technische Universität Berlin, it serves as a tool to instruct users in how to communicate commands to a machine.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** ELAN was developed in 1974.
- **Designer:** The language was designed by Cornelis H. A. Koster, a Dutch computer scientist.
- **Developer:** It was developed by the Technische Universität Berlin.
- **Category:** It is classified as an educational programming language.
- **Purpose:** The primary goal of the language is to facilitate the learning and teaching of systematic programming.
- **Official Website:** Resources for the language are hosted at http://www.cs.ru.nl/elan/.
- **Creator Background:** Cornelis H. A. Koster (1943–2013) was a university teacher and engineer from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

## FAQs
### Q: What is ELAN used for?
A: ELAN is used as an educational tool for learning and teaching systematic programming. It acts as a language for communicating instructions to a machine.

### Q: Who created ELAN?
A: ELAN was designed by Cornelis H. A. Koster, a Dutch computer scientist, university teacher, and engineer.

### Q: When was ELAN developed?
A: ELAN was developed in 1974 at the Technische Universität Berlin.

## Why It Matters
ELAN holds significance in the history of computer science education as a specialized tool created to instill rigorous programming habits. Unlike general-purpose languages that often prioritize utility over pedagogy, ELAN was explicitly engineered to teach "systematic programming." This focus suggests that the language was structured to enforce logic and discipline, helping students grasp the fundamental concepts of algorithmic thinking before moving to more complex or production-level environments.

The development of ELAN by Cornelis H. A. Koster, a noted figure in computer science, at a major technical university (Technische Universität Berlin), highlights the academic effort invested during the 1970s to refine how programming was taught. By isolating the educational experience into a dedicated language, ELAN contributed to the methodologies used to train early generations of programmers, emphasizing the importance of a systematic approach to software construction.

## Notable For
- **Educational Focus:** Distinct from commercial languages, it is tailored specifically for pedagogical use in academic settings.
- **Systematic Approach:** Its design prioritizes the teaching of systematic programming logic rather than just syntax execution.
- **Academic Pedigree:** It was created at the Technische Universität Berlin by a prominent Dutch computer scientist.
- **Historical Relevance:** Established in 1974, it represents early efforts to standardize computer science education.

## Body
### Origin and Development
ELAN is a programming language that was created in **1974**. The project was undertaken at the **Technische Universität Berlin**. The primary architect behind the language was **Cornelis H. A. Koster**, a computer scientist who also worked as a university teacher and engineer. Koster, a citizen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, lived from July 13, 1943, to 2013.

### Definition and Classification
Structurally, ELAN is defined as an **instance of a programming language**, serving as a medium for communicating instructions to a machine. Its unique identifier in the Freebase knowledge graph is `/m/04dy1h`.

### Purpose and Philosophy
The core description of ELAN emphasizes its role as an **educational programming language**. Its specific scope is "learning and teaching systematic programming." This definition implies a design philosophy that values structural correctness and methodical problem-solving, likely to train students in disciplined software development practices.

### Availability
Information regarding ELAN is maintained on its official website (http://www.cs.ru.nl/elan/). The language has a presence on Wikipedia in both English and German, reflecting its academic roots in Germany and the Netherlands.