Chapter 1, Problem 18RQ

Explanation of Solution

Strongest influence on programming languages design over past 50 years:

Computer architecture has been the strongest influence on language design for the last 50 years. Computer architecture means the internal structure or organization of a computer.

The most popular architecture used is von Neumann Architecture. Almost all the digital computers after 1940s use von Neumann Architecture.

Influence of Von Neumann Architecture:

• Von Neumann Architecture uses a single memory to store data as well as programs and a processor to perform computations.
• Data and instructions flow from memory to processor for computation and later the result is transferred back to the memory.
• The languages are designed so as to take advantage of the working of the von Neumann computers...