Fifth-generation programming language: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Category of programming languages}}

A '''fifth-generation programming language''' (abbreviated '''5GL''') is a [[programming language]] based around solving problems using [[constraints]] given to the program, rather than using an [[algorithm]] written by a programmer. Most constraint-based and [[logic programming]] languages and some declarative languages are fifth-generation languages.

{{Refimprove|date=August 2018}}

A '''fifth-generation programming language''' (abbreviated '''5GL''') is a [[high-level programming language|high-level]] [[programming language]] based aroundon problem-solving problems 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 languageslanguage]]s are fifth-generation languages.

==History==

While [[fourth-generation programming language]]s are designed to build specific programs, fifth-generation languages are designed to make the computer solve thea given problem forwithout youthe programmer. This way, the programmeruser 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. [[Prolog]], [[OPS5]], and [[Mercury (programming language)|Mercury]] are theexamples best knownof 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 [[1990s]]1980s, fifth-generation languages were considered to be the waveway of the future, and some predicted that they would replace procedural programming with constraint based programming for all othertasks languagesthat could be framed as a series of logical constraints.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kahanwal |first1=Brijender |date=4 October 2013 |title=A taxonomy for systemprogramming development,languages with themultisequential exceptionprocesses |journal=International Journal of low-levelProgramming languagesLanguages 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">{{Cite web |author=Richard Grigonis |title=FIFTH-GENERATION COMPUTERS |url=http://www.atariarchives.org/deli/fifth_generation.php |access-date=2008-03-05}}</ref><ref name="Ref2">{{Cite web |author=ALP |title=Association for Logic Programming (ALP) |url=http://www.logicprogramming.org/ |access-date=2008-03-05}}</ref> put much research and money into their [[Fifth 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 have lost part of their initial appeal and are mostly used in academic circles.

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>

==See also==

* [[first-generationConstraint programming language]]

* [[second-generationList of programming languagelanguages for artificial intelligence]]

* [[Programming paradigm]]

*[[third-generation programming language]]

*[[fourth-generation programming language]]

==References==

[[Category:Programming language topics]]

{{Reflist}}

{{Programming language generations}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fifth-Generation Programming Language}}

[[Category:Programming language topicsclassification]]