# SASL

> purely functional programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q4048691](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4048691)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SASL_(programming_language))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sasl

## Summary
SASL (St Andrews Static Language) is a purely functional programming language created in 1972. Designed by the British computer scientist David Turner, it serves as a language for communicating instructions to a machine and adheres strictly to the functional programming paradigm.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** SASL was developed in **1972**.
- **Designer:** The language was created by **David Turner**, a British computer scientist (1946–2023).
- **Paradigm:** It is a **purely functional** programming language.
- **Aliases:** SASL stands for **St Andrews Static Language** or **St Andrews Standard Language**.
- **Classification:** It is classified as an instance of a **programming language**.
- **Creator Background:** David Turner, the creator, was a British computer scientist born on January 26, 1946.
- **Global Presence:** The language has Wikipedia entries in four languages: English, Romanian, Russian, and Chinese.

## FAQs
### Q: What does the acronym SASL stand for?
A: SASL stands for St Andrews Static Language. It is also referred to as the St Andrews Standard Language.

### Q: Who created the SASL programming language?
A: SASL was designed by David Turner, a British computer scientist recognized for his work in the field. He was born in 1946 and passed away in 2023.

### Q: What type of programming paradigm does SASL use?
A: SASL is a purely functional programming language. This means it treats computation as the evaluation of mathematical functions and avoids changing-state and mutable data.

## Why It Matters
SASL holds a distinct place in the history of computer science as an early example of the purely functional programming paradigm. Developed in 1972 by David Turner, it represents a significant step in the evolution of languages designed to handle computation through mathematical function evaluation rather than imperative commands.

The language is notable for its association with David Turner, a prominent figure in computer science. Its development in the early 1970s helped pave the way for future research and development in functional programming. By strictly adhering to a purely functional model, SASL provided a framework for exploring the benefits of immutability and higher-order functions, concepts that remain central to modern software development practices. The existence of documentation in multiple languages (English, Romanian, Russian, and Chinese) further indicates its historical reach and academic interest within the global computer science community.

## Notable For
- **Purely Functional Design:** Distinguished as a language that strictly utilizes functional programming, avoiding side effects.
- **Historical Significance:** Originated in 1972, making it an early entry in the timeline of functional programming languages.
- **Creator Legacy:** Was designed by David Turner, a notable British computer scientist with a recognized legacy in the field.
- **Nomenclature:** Known specifically as the St Andrews Static Language (or Standard Language), linking it to the nomenclature styles of its era.

## Body
### Origins and Design
SASL is a purely functional programming language that was inceptioned in **1972**. It falls under the class of programming languages, defined broadly as languages for communicating instructions to a machine.

The language was designed by **David Turner**, a British computer scientist. Turner's personal history includes a birth date of January 26, 1946, and citizenship in the United Kingdom. His occupation is listed as a computer scientist.

### Language Characteristics
The primary characteristic of SASL is its adherence to the **functional programming paradigm**. Unlike imperative languages that use statements to change a program's state, SASL is "purely functional," emphasizing the application of functions.

The name SASL functions as an acronym for two distinct titles:
*   St Andrews Static Language
*   St Andrews Standard Language

### Identifiers and Documentation
SASL is assigned the Freebase ID `/m/04qxmx`. It has a presence on various knowledge platforms, evidenced by a sitelink count of 4 across Wikipedia languages including English (en), Romanian (ro), Russian (ru), and Chinese (zh). Its Microsoft Academic ID, prior to the service's discontinuation, was 2777803269.