FACT (computer language)

FACT was an early computer programming language made in 1959 by the Datamatic Division of Minneapolis Honeywell for its model 800 series business computers. Its name stood for "Fully Automatic Compiling Technique." This language helped shape the design of the COBOL programming language that came later.

The ideas behind FACT were partly inspired by a language project called Basic English, which was created around 1925 by C.K. Ogden. This project aimed to simplify English for easier learning and communication.

A group of people from Computer Sciences Corporation, including Fletcher Jones, Roy Nutt, and Robert L. Patrick, designed FACT. They worked under a contract with Richard Clippinger from Honeywell.

Contributions to COBOL

FACT helped shape the design of COBOL and is listed in all COBOL manuals as one of its three key predecessor languages.

Some ideas from FACT were used in COBOL, such as defining data with levels, giving data starting values, creating reports without detailed steps, and including tools for checking and organizing information.

Implementations

FACT was used in the 1960s by many people and businesses. Five main users wrote all their programs with FACT, and about a dozen more used it in smaller ways. These included a bank and a special system for managing military supplies. The Australian Department of Defence also used FACT during the 1960s and 1970s.

Sample program

This part of the article shows some examples of code from a simple payroll program written in FACT. The code shows how FACT was set up, with clear steps and layouts for reports. It also highlights how FACT worked in a way that was similar to another programming language called COBOL.

The examples include outlines for files, procedures for checking data, and layouts for printing reports. These examples help us see how programs were written and organized in the early days of computing.

FACT specification