The Howdy Glossary

Fortran, initially developed by IBM in the late 1960s as an extension of Fortran IV, was known as the Fortran Extended GRAph Algorithmic Language or FEVAL. This extension aimed to enhance Fortran's capabilities in mathematical and scientific computations by incorporating features for computer graphics and matrix operations. Despite its limited adoption due to competition from other languages with better graphical support, FEVAL significantly influenced numerical computing developments within the Fortran domain.

FEVAL was distinctive for introducing specialized features tailored explicitly for computer graphics and matrix operations, setting it apart from other programming languages at the time. These capabilities allowed programmers to efficiently manipulate graphical elements and perform complex matrix computations within the established Fortran framework. By focusing on enhancing numerical computing tasks through graphing and matrix operations functionalities, FEVAL catered specifically to researchers and engineers working on advanced scientific calculations and simulations.

Competition primarily came from languages like Basic, which integrated well with specialized libraries for handling graphical output on early computing devices. Basic’s user-friendly syntax and robust graphical capabilities made it popular for creating interactive applications requiring visual representations. While Fortran excelled in performance optimization for complex mathematical algorithms crucial for scientific research and engineering projects, Basic's simplicity offered ease of use that led to its wider adoption in scenarios where graphical outputs were vital. These distinctions highlight how each language carved out its niche based on its strengths—Fortran prioritized numerical precision and computational efficiency, while Basic focused on accessibility and graphical versatility.