Fifth-generation programming language: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Category of programming languages}}

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A '''fifth-generation programming language''' (abbreviated '''5GL''') is a [[programming language]] which ''will'' radically change programming. Fifth generation languages ''will'' replace most of current 3GL and some of current 4GL languages because of much much better programmer productivity and code quality.

A '''fifth-generation programming language''' ('''5GL''') is a [[high-level programming language|high-level]] [[programming language]] based on problem-solving using constraints given to the program, rather than using an [[algorithm]] written by a programmer.<ref>{{cite book |title=Network dictionary |date=2007 |publisher=Javvin Technologies, Inc |isbn=9781602670006 |editor1-last=Dong |editor1-first=Jielin |___location=Saratoga, Calif. |page=195}}</ref> Most [[constraint programming|constraint-based]] and [[logic programming]] languages and some other [[declarative language]]s are fifth-generation languages.

==History==

We will be able to recognize fifth generation of languages only when they ''will'' overtake fourth and third generation. See also «Common misconception» below.

While [[fourth-generation programming language]]s are designed to build specific programs, fifth-generation languages are designed to make the computer solve a given problem without the programmer. This way, the user only needs to worry about what problems need to be solved and what conditions need to be met, without worrying about how to implement a routine or algorithm to solve them. Fifth-generation languages are used mainly in [[artificial intelligence]] research. [[OPS5]] and [[Mercury (programming language)|Mercury]] are examples of fifth-generation languages,<ref name="bala">E. Balagurusamy, ''Fundamentals of Computers'', Mcgraw Hill Education (India), 2009, {{ISBN|978-0070141605}}, p. 340</ref> as is [[ICAD (software)|ICAD]], which was built upon [[Lisp (programming language)|Lisp]]. [[KL-ONE]] is an example of a related idea, a [[frame language]].

In the 1990s1980s, fifth-generation languages were considered to be the waveway of the future, and some predicted that they would replace allprocedural otherprogramming languageswith constraint based programming for systemall development,tasks withthat thecould exceptionbe framed as a series of low-levellogical languagesconstraints.<ref>{{Citationcite journal |last1=Kahanwal |first1=Brijender needed|date=July4 2009October 2013 |title=A taxonomy for programming languages with multisequential processes |journal=International Journal of Programming Languages and Applications |volume=3 |issue=4 |arxiv=1311.3293 |doi=10.5121/ijpla.2013.3401}}</ref> Most notably, from 1982 to 1993, [[Japan]]<ref name="Ref1">{{citeCite web |author=Richard Grigonis |title=FIFTH-GENERATION COMPUTERS |url=http://www.atariarchives.org/deli/fifth_generation.php |title=FIFTHaccess-GENERATION COMPUTERS|accessdatedate=2008-03-05|author=Richard Grigonis}}</ref><ref name="Ref2">{{citeCite web |urlauthor=http://www.cs.kuleuven.ac.be/~dtai/projects/ALP/ |title=Association for Logic Programming (ALP) |accessdateurl=http://www.logicprogramming.org/ |access-date=2008-03-05|author=ALP}}</ref> put much research and money into their [[fifthFifth generation computer|fifth-generation computer systems project]], hoping to design a massive computer network of machines using these tools.

However, as larger programs were built, the flaws of the approach became more apparent. It turns out that, starting fromgiven a set of constraints defining a particular problem, deriving an efficient algorithm to solve it is a very difficult problem in itself. This crucial step cannot yet be automated and still requires the insight of a human programmer.

== Common misconception ==

Today, fifth-generation languages are back as a possible level of computer language. A number of software vendors currently claim that their software meets the visual "programming" requirements of the 5GL concept.

Vendors have been known on occasion to advertise their languages as 5GL. Most of the time they actually sell [[Fourth-generation programming language|4GLs]] with a higher level of automation and [[knowledge base]]. Because the hype of the 1980s faded away and the projects were eventually all dropped, 5GL awareness has also dropped; this has opened doors to the vendors to reuse the term in marketing their new tools, without causing much controversy among the current generations of programmers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Howard |first1=Philip |date=17 January 2007 |title=What makes a 5GL? |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/17/5gl/ |access-date=28 November 2019 |website=The Register}}</ref>

== Common misconception ==

From time to time vendors in the application development space have claimed 5GL (5th generation language) capabilities.<ref>[http://www.it-analysis.com/channels/content.php?cid=9096 What makes a 5GL?]</ref> Most of the time they actually sell [[4GL]]s with a higher levels of automation and knowledge base. Since the 5GL awareness has dropped because the hype of the 80's quickly faded away and that the projects were eventually all dropped; this has opened doors to the vendors to re-use the term in marketing their new tools, without causing much controversy among the current generations of programmers. Their tools actually consist of [[4GL]]s packed with [[Rapid application development|RAD]] wizards, [[Computer-aided software engineering|CASE]] tools and other graphical coding assistance that facilitates code generation.

==See also==

* [[Constraint programming]]

{{Programming language generations}}

* [[List of programming languages for artificial intelligence]]

* [[Programming paradigm]]

==References==

{{reflistReflist}}

{{Programming language generations}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fifth-Generation Programming Language}}

[[Category:Programming language classification]]

[[fr:L5G]]