# Short Code

> one of the first higher-level languages ever developed for an electronic computer

**Wikidata**: [Q2566011](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2566011)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Code_(computer_language))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/short-code

## Summary
Short Code was one of the first higher-level programming languages ever developed for electronic computers. It was designed by John Mauchly in 1950 and influenced by the earlier ENIAC Short Code. The language is classified as both a programming language and a procedural programming language.

## Key Facts
- Developed by John Mauchly in 1950
- Influenced by ENIAC Short Code (1946)
- Also known as Brief Code
- Classified as both a programming language and procedural programming language
- Has 6 Wikipedia language editions (en, et, ja, pt, ru, uk)
- Microsoft Academic ID: 2777067813
- Freebase ID: /m/0dc4km
- Foldoc ID: Short+Code

### Q: What is Short Code?
A: Short Code was one of the first higher-level programming languages developed for electronic computers, created by John Mauchly in 1950. It was designed to be more accessible than machine code and influenced by the earlier ENIAC Short Code.

### Q: Who created Short Code?
A: Short Code was designed by John Mauchly, an American physicist and inventor who also co-created ENIAC. The language was developed in 1950 as one of the earliest attempts to create a higher-level programming language.

### Q: What programming paradigm does Short Code follow?
A: Short Code follows the procedural programming paradigm, which involves writing code as a sequence of instructions that tell the computer what to do step by step.

### Q: What was Short Code influenced by?
A: Short Code was influenced by ENIAC Short Code, an earlier programming language developed for the ENIAC computer in 1946. This influence helped shape Short Code's design as one of the first higher-level languages.

### Q: What are some alternative names for Short Code?
A: Short Code is also known as Brief Code, which appears to be an alternative name or alias for the same programming language.

## Why It Matters
Short Code represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of computer programming, marking one of the earliest attempts to create a higher-level language that would make programming more accessible than working directly with machine code. Developed by John Mauchly in 1950, it built upon the foundation laid by ENIAC Short Code and helped establish the concept that programming languages could be designed to be more human-readable and easier to use. This was a crucial step toward the development of modern programming languages, as it demonstrated the feasibility and value of abstraction in computer programming. The language's procedural paradigm also helped establish patterns and concepts that would influence countless programming languages that followed, making it an important milestone in the history of computer science.

## Notable For
- One of the first higher-level programming languages for electronic computers
- Created by John Mauchly, co-creator of ENIAC
- Influenced by ENIAC Short Code, showing evolution in programming language design
- Early example of procedural programming paradigm
- Helped establish the concept of higher-level programming languages

## Body
### Development and History
Short Code was developed by John Mauchly in 1950, building upon the earlier ENIAC Short Code from 1946. Mauchly, an American physicist and inventor, was already well-known for his work on ENIAC, one of the earliest electronic general-purpose computers. The development of Short Code represented an important step in making programming more accessible by creating a higher-level language that was easier to use than machine code.

### Technical Characteristics
As a procedural programming language, Short Code followed the paradigm of writing code as a sequence of instructions that the computer would execute step by step. This approach to programming was foundational for many languages that would follow. The language was designed to be more human-readable than machine code, representing one of the earliest attempts to create abstraction in programming.

### Influence and Legacy
Short Code's influence can be seen in its relationship to ENIAC Short Code and its role in establishing the viability of higher-level programming languages. While it may not be as well-known as some later languages, its contribution to the evolution of programming language design was significant. The procedural paradigm it employed would go on to influence many subsequent programming languages and remains relevant in modern programming.

### Documentation and References
The language is documented in various academic and historical sources, with references including Wikidata entries and academic databases. Its Microsoft Academic ID (2777067813) and Freebase ID (/m/0dc4km) provide persistent identifiers for research purposes. The language has entries in six different Wikipedia language editions, indicating its historical significance across different linguistic and cultural contexts.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013