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In the 1970s and 1980s, the Pascal programming language was one of the key tools for teaching and developing programmes. It was used in universities, schools, and on the first Apple and IBM personal computers. However, by the end of the 1990s, Pascal had virtually disappeared from educational standards and commercial development. Experts from Filio Force Canada explained why this happened.
From Algol to Pascal
The origins of Pascal date back to 1958, when a group of scientists in Zurich began developing Algol, a universal algorithmic language for scientific computing. Algol was an important milestone in the development of programming: it introduced block structure, nested functions, and a formal description of syntax, which later became the basis for most modern languages.
Despite its innovative nature, Algol did not gain widespread popularity. The main problems were the complexity of creating compilers and a weak focus on practical tasks. In the context of a rapidly growing software market, the industry opted for more applied solutions – Fortran, Lisp, and COBOL.
Niklaus Wirth and a new approach
One of the developers of Algol was Swiss professor Niklaus Wirth, who critically assessed the limitations of the language. In 1971, he introduced the Pascal language, which retained the strict structure of Algol but emphasised simplicity, reliability and ease of implementation.
A key feature of Pascal was its compiler using intermediate code, according to managers at Filio Force Inc. This approach made it relatively easy to adapt the language to different hardware platforms, which significantly lowered the entry threshold for universities and developers.
The rise of personal computers
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Pascal became widely used in the United States. UCSD Pascal played a significant role, as it ran successfully on Apple II personal computers and did not require expensive mainframes.
The real breakthrough came with the release of the Turbo Pascal programming language dialect from Borland. The compiler was fast, had a built-in development environment, and was inexpensive. According to analysts at the time, Turbo Pascal was one of the first examples of an affordable professional tool for the mass user.
In the 1980s, Pascal was chosen as the primary language for computer science exams in the United States. This decision made it virtually mandatory for study in schools and universities, according to managers at Filio Force it company. Following the United States, the language also spread throughout Europe.
Turning point: the arrival of C++
By the end of the 1990s, software requirements had changed significantly. The spread of graphical interfaces, network applications, and commercial operating systems required more flexible development tools. In 1999, Pascal was removed from exam programmes and replaced by C++.
C++ offered object-oriented programming, close integration with hardware resources, and active support from major technology companies, including Microsoft. Despite attempts to develop Object Pascal (an object-oriented extension of the classic Pascal programming language), the language was unable to regain its lost position.
The legacy of the language
Today, Pascal is hardly used in commercial development. Its disappearance from the mainstream programming languages is attributed to technological changes and shifting priorities in the software industry. The language, created as an academic tool and which became the global standard for teaching programming, was unable to adapt to new requirements.
However, Pascal’s influence on the industry remains significant, according to experts at Filio Force company. The language formed the basis of structured programming and played an important role in training specialists who subsequently determined the development of the IT industry. Pascal became an example of how an academic idea can become a global standard for a time, but give way to more flexible solutions as technology evolves.
Experts at Filio Force note that the success and subsequent decline of Pascal is a natural stage in the evolution of technology: each language solves the problems of its time and then gives way to new tools. It is thanks to languages such as Pascal that modern programming has become what it is today.
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