# Telescript

> programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q18388455](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18388455)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telescript_(programming_language))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/telescript

## Summary
Telescript is an object-based programming language designed for communicating instructions to a machine. It is recognized in computing knowledge bases as a specific instance of both object-based and general programming languages. Technical documentation for the language, such as the Telescript Language Reference, dates back to October 1995.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Telescript is classified as both an **object-based language** and a **programming language**.
- **Documentation:** A formal "Telescript Language Reference" manual exists, dated **October 1995**.
- **Associated Entity:** Based on file archives, the language is associated with **General Magic**.
- **Wikidata ID:** The entity is indexed in Wikidata with the description "programming language."
- **Wikipedia Presence:** The language has a dedicated Wikipedia article titled **"Telescript (programming language)"**.
- **Language Availability:** Wikipedia entries for Telescript are available in **four languages**: English, French, Japanese, and Turkish.
- **Freebase ID:** /m/0121_vtp
- **FOLDOC ID:** Telescript

## FAQs
### Q: What type of programming language is Telescript?
A: Telescript is an object-based programming language. This means it utilizes objects to manage data and instructions, though it may not strictly adhere to all the formal definitions of object-oriented programming found in other languages.

### Q: Where can I find the technical reference manual for Telescript?
A: The "Telescript Language Reference" from October 1995 is archived and accessible online via the Bitsavers repository.

### Q: Is Telescript widely documented on the web?
A: Documentation is relatively limited compared to major languages; it has a presence on Wikipedia in four languages (English, French, Japanese, Turkish) and a sitelink count of 4 in Wikidata.

## Why It Matters
Telescript serves as a historical example of specialized language design, specifically falling under the category of object-based languages. Its existence highlights the diversity of programming paradigms developed to instruct machines, moving beyond simple procedural code to more structured, object-based approaches.

The preservation of its language reference manual from 1995 provides researchers and historians with a concrete artifact of software development practices from that era. The association with General Magic, inferred from its documentation path, positions Telescript within a specific lineage of technological development focused on interconnected, intelligent systems during the mid-1990s. While it may not have the widespread adoption of modern mainstream languages (indicated by a low sitelink count of 4), its classification in major knowledge bases like Freebase, FOLDOC, and Wikidata underscores its legitimacy as a distinct, defined computer language.

## Notable For
- **Object-Based Structure:** Distinct from standard procedural languages, utilizing an object-based architecture.
- **Archival Status:** Maintained in specific technical archives (Bitsavers) and computing dictionaries (FOLDOC).
- **Multilingual Documentation:** Has encyclopedic coverage in English, French, Japanese, and Turkish.
- **Mid-90s Origin:** Its primary reference documentation dates to October 1995.

## Body
### Classification and Definition
Telescript is defined within knowledge hierarchies as an **instance of** an object-based language and a programming language. It falls under the broader class of languages used for communicating instructions to a machine.

### Documentation and Resources
The primary technical resource identified for Telescript is the **Telescript Language Reference**, published in October 1995. This document is archived at `bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de` under the `generalMagic` directory path.
- **User Manual URL:** `http://bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart.de/pdf/generalMagic/Telescript_Language_Reference_Oct95.pdf`

### Digital Presence and Identifiers
Telescript is indexed across several major knowledge bases and semantic web repositories, confirming its status as a recognized programming language.
- **Wikipedia:** The article title is "Telescript (programming language)," with versions in **en** (English), **fr** (French), **ja** (Japanese), and **tr** (Turkish).
- **Sitlink Count:** The entity has a sitelink count of 4.
- **Identifiers:**
  - **Freebase ID:** /m/0121_vtp
  - **FOLDOC ID:** Telescript
  - **Microsoft Academic ID:** 2780289117 (discontinued service)