# WATFIV

> implementation of the Fortran computer programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q7475315](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7475315)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WATFIV)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/watfiv

## Summary
WATFIV is an implementation of the Fortran computer programming language that was created in 1968. Its full name is WATerloo FORTRAN IV. As an implementation, it provides a specific set of tools and a compiler for writing and running programs in the Fortran language.

## Key Facts
- **Inception Date**: 1968
- **Full Name**: WATerloo FORTRAN IV
- **Instance Of**: Programming language
- **Based On**: Fortran
- **Implementation Language**: Written in assembly language

## FAQs
### Q: What does WATFIV stand for?
A: WATFIV stands for WATerloo FORTRAN IV.

### Q: When was WATFIV created?
A: WATFIV was created in 1968.

### Q: Is WATFIV a different language from Fortran?
A: No, WATFIV is not a different language. It is a specific implementation of the Fortran programming language, which was first developed in 1957.

## Why It Matters
WATFIV is significant as a distinct and documented implementation of Fortran, one of the earliest and most influential high-level programming languages. Created in 1968, it represents a specific branch in the evolution of Fortran development. Its existence highlights the period when different institutions created their own compilers and environments for major languages to suit specific hardware or user needs. The fact that it was written in assembly language also provides insight into the software development practices of the era, where performance and direct hardware control were critical.

## Notable For
- **Specific Implementation**: It is a notable, named implementation of the general-purpose Fortran language, rather than a new language itself.
- **Descriptive Name**: Its full name, WATerloo FORTRAN IV, points to its origins and the specific version of the Fortran standard it was based on.
- **Low-Level Foundation**: WATFIV was itself written in assembly language, a low-level language with a strong correspondence to the machine's architecture.

## Body
### ### Classification and Identity
WATFIV is classified as a programming language and is a specific implementation of Fortran. It is not a distinct language but rather a version of the Fortran compiler and environment. Its official alias and full name is "WATerloo FORTRAN IV".

### ### History and Development
- **Inception**: The project was initiated in 1968.
- **Foundation**: It is based on the Fortran programming language, which was created in 1957.

### ### Technical Details
WATFIV was developed using assembly language. This means the compiler itself was written in a low-level language that corresponds very closely to the computer's native machine code instructions.