# FACT

> programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q7474729](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7474729)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FACT_(computer_language))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/fact

## Summary
FACT (Fully Automated Compiling Technique) is a procedural programming language created in 1959. It was designed by the Computer Sciences Corporation and Honeywell International, Inc. to facilitate the communication of instructions to machines.

## Key Facts
*   **Full Name:** Fully Automated Compiling Technique
*   **Inception:** 1959
*   **Primary Designers:** Computer Sciences Corporation; Honeywell International, Inc.
*   **Programming Paradigm:** Procedural programming
*   **Type:** Programming language, Procedural programming language
*   **Influenced By:** Basic English
*   **Wikipedia Entry:** FACT (computer language)

## FAQs
### Q: What does the acronym FACT stand for in computing?
A: FACT stands for Fully Automated Compiling Technique. It is the name of a programming language developed in the late 1950s.

### Q: Who created the FACT programming language?
A: The language was created by Honeywell International, Inc. and designed by the Computer Sciences Corporation.

### Q: What type of programming language is FACT?
A: FACT is a procedural programming language. This means it is based on the concept of procedural calls or steps to communicate instructions to a machine.

## Why It Matters
FACT represents an early effort in the history of computer science to create structured, high-level languages for industrial and commercial use. Developed in 1959 by Computer Sciences Corporation and Honeywell, it emerged during a pivotal era where programming moved beyond raw machine code toward more abstract, human-readable syntax. Its classification as a procedural language highlights its role in defining paradigms where programs are built from procedures or routines.

The language is notably influenced by "Basic English," suggesting that its designers prioritized accessibility and readability for the programmer, a philosophy that would become central to later modern languages. While it may not have the ubiquity of modern successors, FACT serves as a historical marker for the collaborative efforts between hardware manufacturers (Honeywell) and software services firms (CSC) to standardize how humans interact with machines.

## Notable For
*   **Early Procedural Design:** Being explicitly classified as a procedural programming language during the foundational decade of computing (1959).
*   **Linguistic Influence:** Being influenced by "Basic English," distinguishing it from languages rooted purely in mathematical notation.
*   **Corporate Origin:** Originating from a collaboration between a major hardware corporation (Honeywell) and a pioneering software company (Computer Sciences Corporation).

## Body
### Origin and Development
The Fully Automated Compiling Technique (FACT) was established in 1959. The project involved significant collaboration within the American computer industry. The **Computer Sciences Corporation** is credited with the design of the language, while **Honeywell International, Inc.** is listed as a creator. This dual attribution highlights the close relationship between early software development and hardware manufacturers.

### Technical Classification
FACT is formally classified as an **instance of** a programming language, specifically falling under the category of **procedural programming languages**. In this paradigm, the language is utilized to communicate instructions to a machine through a sequence of steps or procedures.

### Design Influences
A distinct characteristic of FACT's design is its influence by **Basic English**. This suggests that the syntax and structure of the language were intended to mimic natural language patterns to some degree, likely aiming to simplify the coding process for business and industrial applications.