The Howdy Glossary

The Internal Translator (IT), also known as ITL, is a programming language created in the late 1950s for the IBM 1401 Computer and its successors. It was designed to compile programs directly into machine code for execution by the system, eliminating the need for additional assembly or compiling steps. This capability made IT one of the earliest self-hosting compilers, allowing it to compile newer versions of itself on an IBM 1401, thus streamlining software development for early computer users with limited resources.

IT introduced several innovative features that set it apart from other languages of its era. Its ability to compile programs directly into machine code without needing further assembly was a significant advancement. The self-hosting capability meant that an IT compiler running on an IBM 1401 could compile updated versions of itself, greatly enhancing efficiency and resource optimization in software development. These design choices were particularly beneficial given the constrained resources available during early computing, highlighting IT's role in advancing programming practices at the time.

Despite not having direct competitors tailored specifically for similar use cases on the IBM 1401, IT stood out against broader contemporaries like Assembly Language and FORTRAN. Its streamlined approach eliminated extra steps typically required by other languages while enabling recursive compilation through its self-hosting nature. These innovations allowed developers to be more productive and adaptable within their resource limitations, positioning IT as a forward-thinking language suitable for early programmers working with systems like the IBM 1401 and its successors.