Generational list of programming languages

This is a "genealogy" of programming languages. Languages are grouped based on which ancestor language had the strongest influence on them. These ancestor languages are then listed in alphabetical order. Since programming languages often borrow ideas from many different sources, any such grouping always includes some level of choice and interpretation. This list helps us understand how modern programming languages evolved from earlier ones, showing the connections and history behind the tools we use today. By looking at these relationships, we can see how ideas and techniques in programming have grown and changed over time.

ALGOL based

ALGOL was an important early programming language that influenced many others. Some languages that came from ALGOL include ALGOL 58, ALGOL 60, and ALGOL 68.

From ALGOL 60, languages like Simula and SETL developed. SETL led to ABC, which then influenced Python. Python inspired languages such as Julia, Nim, and Swift. ALGOL W led to Pascal, which evolved into many languages including Ada, Turbo Pascal, and Object Pascal. Object Pascal includes Delphi and Free Pascal. Pascal also influenced Modula-2, which led to Modula-3 and Oberon. Oberon developed into several languages like Go, Lua, and Component Pascal.

APL based

APL is a programming language that inspired several others. Some of these include A+, J, K, NESL, and PDL. These languages carry forward ideas from APL in their own special ways.

BASIC based

BASIC is a family of programming languages that started from a simple idea to make computers easier to use. Many versions of BASIC have been created over the years, each designed for different types of computers and needs. Some well-known ones include Applesoft BASIC for Apple computers, Commodore BASIC for Commodore machines, and Microsoft BASIC which later evolved into Visual Basic for Applications, used in many computer programs today. These languages helped people write programs in a way that was more straightforward and accessible than earlier complex systems.

Batch languages

Batch languages are a group of programming tools used to automate tasks on computers. One example is MS-DOS Batch files, which includes a tool called Winbatch. Other batch languages are CLIST, IBM Control Language (CL), and IBM Job Control Language (JCL). These languages help computers follow steps without needing a person to type each command.

C based

C is a programming language that has influenced many other languages. Some languages that came from C include Lua, C++, and C#.

From C++, we have languages like Rust and D. C# led to Windows PowerShell. Other languages influenced by C are Java, Go, and Perl, which in turn influenced languages like PHP and Ruby.

C# based

C# is a popular programming language that has influenced many others. Some languages inspired by C# include Chapel, Clojure, Crystal, J#, Dart, F#, Hack, Java, Kotlin, Nemerle, Oxygene, Rust, Swift, Vala, and TypeScript. These languages share ideas and features that make programming easier and more powerful.

COBOL based

COBOL is a programming language that helped shape many others. Some languages influenced by COBOL include ABAP, DIBOL, and WATBOL. These languages built on COBOL's ideas to create new ways for computers to understand instructions.

COMIT based

The COMIT programming language influenced several other languages. One of its descendants is SNOBOL, which in turn inspired Icon. Icon later led to the development of Unicon. Additionally, SNOBOL also influenced Lua, which is also linked to Modula and Scheme.

DCL based

DCL, or Digital Command Language, is a programming language used mainly in older computer systems. One of its notable offshoots is Windows PowerShell, which is also connected to other languages like C#, ksh, and Perl.

ed based

The "ed based" group of programming languages started with the ed (programming language). This group includes languages like sed and AWK. AWK later influenced another language called Perl, which is also related to the C language.

Eiffel based

The Eiffel programming language has influenced several other languages. Some of these include Cobra, known for its use of design by contract, Sather, and Ubercode. These languages carry forward ideas from Eiffel in their own unique ways.

Forth based

Forth is a programming language that influenced several other languages. Some of these include InterPress, which led to PostScript. Joy, another language influenced by Forth, inspired Factor. Additionally, Rebol and RPL were also developed from Forth, though they are sometimes linked to Lisp as well.

Fortran based

Fortran is an old and important programming language that helped create many others. Some of the languages that came from Fortran include BASIC, SAKO, WATFOR, WATFIV, FORMAC, Ratfor, WATFOR-77, Ratfiv, F, and ALGOL. Each new language built on ideas from Fortran to make programming easier and more powerful.

FP based

This section shows how some programming languages are related, starting from FP (Function Programming). FP developed into FL (Function Level), which also influenced J, a language also linked to APL. Additionally, FPr grew from FP and connects to Lisp and object-oriented programming. These relationships help us see how newer languages build on older ideas.

Main article: FP (Function Programming)

HyperTalk based

HyperTalk is a programming language that influenced several other languages. Some of these include ActionScript, which is also related to JavaScript, AppleScript for automating tasks on Apple computers, LiveCode formerly known as Transcript, SenseTalk, and SuperTalk.

Java based

Java is a popular programming language that has influenced many others. Some languages inspired by Java include C#, Ceylon, Fantom, Groovy, Scala, Kotlin, and several more. These languages share ideas and features from Java, making them useful for different types of programming tasks.

JavaScript based

JavaScript is a programming language that has inspired many others. Some of these include ActionScript, which also relates to HyperTalk and led to Haxe. Other languages influenced by JavaScript are Asm.js, CoffeeScript, ECMAScript, JavaScript OSA, and JScript. Additionally, TypeScript, which later influenced AssemblyScript, also grew from JavaScript's roots.

JOSS based

JOSS inspired many other programming languages. Some of these include CAL, TELCOMP, FOCAL, and MUMPS. MUMPS later influenced Caché ObjectScript. JOSS also helped shape features in versions of BASIC, such as Tymshare's SUPER BASIC and DEC's BASIC-PLUS.

Lisp based

Lisp is a family of programming languages. Many languages come from Lisp, including Arc, AutoLISP, Clojure, and Common Lisp. Some of these languages, like Emacs Lisp and Scheme, are used in special areas such as editing text and creating web applications. Other languages like Logo are known for helping people learn to program by using simple shapes and pictures.

ML based

This section talks about a group of programming languages that started from ML. One of these is called Standard ML (SML). From Caml, we get OCaml, which then influenced several other languages. These include F#, Reason, and Rust. Rust is also related to other languages like C++, Cyclone, and Haskell.

PL/I based

PL/I inspired several other programming languages. Some of these include PL/M, PL/C, and Rexx. Rexx itself led to the development of Object REXX, which is also connected to Smalltalk. Other languages influenced by PL/I are SP/k and XPL.

Prolog based

This section talks about programming languages that come from Prolog. Some of these languages are CLP(R) and CLP(FD), Mercury, and Erlang. From Erlang, we have languages like Cuneiform and Elixir, which is also related to Ruby. Another language in this group is Logtalk.

SASL based

The SASL programming language influenced several other languages. One of these is the Kent Recursive Calculator. Miranda came after SASL and led to the creation of Haskell. From Haskell, many modern languages grew, including Agda, Elm, Idris, Rust, Swift, and PureScript. Another language that came from Miranda is Nix.

SETL based

The SETL programming language inspired several other languages. One of these is ABC, which in turn influenced Python. Python has been a foundation for many modern languages, including Julia, Nim, Swift, Boo, and Cobra. These languages often draw ideas from more than one parent, mixing features from SETL, ALGOL, Lisp, Ruby, and other sources.

sh based

The sh based group of programming languages includes several popular shells used for running commands and scripts on computers. These include bash, which is widely used in Linux and macOS, fish known for its user-friendly features, and zsh which offers many powerful enhancements. Other shells like csh, which also relates to the C language, have led to variants such as tcsh and the Hamilton C shell. The ksh shell influenced Windows PowerShell, used on Windows, and Qshell.

Simula based

Simula is a programming language that helped create many others. Some languages that came from Simula include C++, Smalltalk, and BETA.

Smalltalk led to several other languages. For example, Objective-C mixed Smalltalk with C, and later helped create Swift and Cobra. Ruby also grew from Smalltalk and Perl, and it influenced Swift, Elixir, and more. Self came from Smalltalk too and led to JavaScript and NewtonScript. NewtonScript then helped develop Io.

Tcl based

The Tcl programming language has helped create other languages. Two examples are Expect and Tea. These languages build on ideas from Tcl to solve different kinds of problems.

Others

This section lists many different programming languages. Some well-known ones include Assembly, SQL (Structured Query Language), and TUTOR. Others, like LabVIEW, have special versions such as NXT-G. Each language has its own way of giving instructions to computers.