COLINGO(ID:221/col009)

for Compile On-LINe and GO.

MITRE Corp.

English-like query system for IBM 1401.
Related languages
COLINGO => C-10   Evolution of
COLINGO => CCL   Evolution of
References:
  • Robertson, J. et al. COLINGO "D": A Control Language for U.S. Strike Command (Compile On LINe and GO), W-06890, 4 March 1964 view details
  • Robertson, JG, Spitzek, JF, "USSTRICOM Colingo System Description," Mitre Report view details
  • Spitzer, J. F., et al., "The COLINGO system design philosophy," pp36-39 view details
          in Information System Sciences, Proc. of the Second Congress, 1965, Spartan Books, New York, 1965 view details
  • Rogers, E. R. review of Spitzer 1965 view details Abstract: This paper describes an on-line interpretive system, called COLINGO. This program was originally written by the Mitre Corp. for an IBM 1401. In one mode, this system interacts with the operator, who presents each directive after the previous one is fulfilled. One advantage of this technique is the possibility of changing the contents or definition of the data base as a function of intermediate ret suits. This approach can be particularly useful in a time sharing environment. The English-style statement syntax and extensive file generation and maintenance directives make this system particularly useful to a small computer user who wants information without apparent sophistic tion. Data is given on the storage requirements for the IBM 1401, but no timing data is given. While timing dab may not be valuable in an on-line mode, it is useful in the more automatic interpretive or "chained message" mode.
          in ACM Computing Reviews 7(02) March-April 1966 view details
  • Sammet, Jean E. "Computer Languages - Principles and History" Englewood Cliffs, N.J. Prentice-Hall 1969. p.664. view details Extract: COLINGO
    One of the systems in the general category of higher artificial languages with a wide data base is COLINGO, developed at the MITRE Corporation and implemented on the IBM 1401. More accurately. COLINGO is a system of programs called by an interpreter for the COLINGO control language. The files are described using a language based heavily on the COBOL DATA DEVISION. Typical statements in COLINGO are the following:

    GET FORCE-STATUS-FILE IF UNIT EQ 82-ABN COMPUTE FORCE-RATIO TOTAL-OFFICERS/TOTAL-EM

    GET A-FILE IF STRENGTH/AUTH GR 500 EXECUTE O1 02 03 IF/NOT PRINT ALL

          in ACM Computing Reviews 7(02) March-April 1966 view details
  • Stock, Marylene and Stock, Karl F. "Bibliography of Programming Languages: Books, User Manuals and Articles from PLANKALKUL to PL/I" Verlag Dokumentation, Pullach/Munchen 1973 130 view details Abstract: PREFACE  AND  INTRODUCTION
    The exact number of all the programming languages still in use, and those which are no longer used, is unknown. Zemanek calls the abundance of programming languages and their many dialects a "language Babel". When a new programming language is developed, only its name is known at first and it takes a while before publications about it appear. For some languages, the only relevant literature stays inside the individual companies; some are reported on in papers and magazines; and only a few, such as ALGOL, BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN, and PL/1, become known to a wider public through various text- and handbooks. The situation surrounding the application of these languages in many computer centers is a similar one.

    There are differing opinions on the concept "programming languages". What is called a programming language by some may be termed a program, a processor, or a generator by others. Since there are no sharp borderlines in the field of programming languages, works were considered here which deal with machine languages, assemblers, autocoders, syntax and compilers, processors and generators, as well as with general higher programming languages.

    The bibliography contains some 2,700 titles of books, magazines and essays for around 300 programming languages. However, as shown by the "Overview of Existing Programming Languages", there are more than 300 such languages. The "Overview" lists a total of 676 programming languages, but this is certainly incomplete. One author ' has already announced the "next 700 programming languages"; it is to be hoped the many users may be spared such a great variety for reasons of compatibility. The graphic representations (illustrations 1 & 2) show the development and proportion of the most widely-used programming languages, as measured by the number of publications listed here and by the number of computer manufacturers and software firms who have implemented the language in question. The illustrations show FORTRAN to be in the lead at the present time. PL/1 is advancing rapidly, although PL/1 compilers are not yet seen very often outside of IBM.

    Some experts believe PL/1 will replace even the widely-used languages such as FORTRAN, COBOL, and ALGOL.4) If this does occur, it will surely take some time - as shown by the chronological diagram (illustration 2) .

    It would be desirable from the user's point of view to reduce this language confusion down to the most advantageous languages. Those languages still maintained should incorporate the special facets and advantages of the otherwise superfluous languages. Obviously such demands are not in the interests of computer production firms, especially when one considers that a FORTRAN program can be executed on nearly all third-generation computers.

    The titles in this bibliography are organized alphabetically according to programming language, and within a language chronologically and again alphabetically within a given year. Preceding the first programming language in the alphabet, literature is listed on several languages, as are general papers on programming languages and on the theory of formal languages (AAA).
    As far as possible, the most of titles are based on autopsy. However, the bibliographical description of sone titles will not satisfy bibliography-documentation demands, since they are based on inaccurate information in various sources. Translation titles whose original titles could not be found through bibliographical research were not included. ' In view of the fact that nany libraries do not have the quoted papers, all magazine essays should have been listed with the volume, the year, issue number and the complete number of pages (e.g. pp. 721-783), so that interlibrary loans could take place with fast reader service. Unfortunately, these data were not always found.

    It is hoped that this bibliography will help the electronic data processing expert, and those who wish to select the appropriate programming language from the many available, to find a way through the language Babel.

    We wish to offer special thanks to Mr. Klaus G. Saur and the staff of Verlag Dokumentation for their publishing work.

    Graz / Austria, May, 1973
          in ACM Computing Reviews 7(02) March-April 1966 view details
  • Fry, James P.; Sibley, Edgar H. "Evolution of Data-Base Management Systems" view details
          in [ACM] ACM Computing Surveys (CSUR) 8(1) March 1976 view details