The Howdy Glossary

QUIKTRAN, a high-level programming language developed by the Engineering Computer Laboratory at Purdue University in the late 1960s, was designed to blend elements of FORTRAN and assembly languages. This combination aimed to expedite coding efficiency while allowing for optimization through low-level techniques, making it particularly useful for numerical computations on early mainframes. The primary goal of QUIKTRAN was to enable engineers and scientists to quickly write and execute numerical calculation programs effectively on the computing platforms available at that time.

By merging high-level and low-level language features, QUIKTRAN offered a unique balance between development speed and performance optimization. This distinctive feature made it valuable for critical computational tasks in engineering and scientific fields during its era. However, as more versatile programming languages like MATLAB, Python, and C/C++ emerged—offering extensive libraries and compatibility with modern systems—QUIKTRAN's usage declined. These newer languages provided more sophisticated tools catering to a wider range of applications which outpaced QUIKTRAN's capabilities.

The competitive differences highlighted how emerging languages like MATLAB, Python, and C/C++ gained prominence due to their advanced functionalities and extensive support for contemporary applications. While QUIKTRAN had an advantage in combining swift code writing with performance optimization options on early mainframes, its position weakened over time as these newer languages offered greater flexibility, scalability, and integration with modern technologies. Consequently, the user base shifted towards these advanced alternatives for engineering and scientific computations in line with evolving computational needs.