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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.
We will be able to recognize fifth generation of languages only when they will overtake fourth and third generation. See also «Common misconception» below.
In the 1990s, fifth-generation languages were considered to be the wave of the future, and some predicted that they would replace all other languages for system development, with the exception of low-level languages.[citation needed] Most notably, from 1982 to 1993 Japan[1][2] put much research and money into their 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 from 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.
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.
Common misconception
From time to time vendors in the application development space have claimed 5GL (5th generation language) capabilities.[3] Most of the time they actually sell 4GLs 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 4GLs packed with RAD wizards, CASE tools and other graphical coding assistance that facilitates code generation.
See also
References
- ^ Richard Grigonis. "FIFTH-GENERATION COMPUTERS". Retrieved 2008-03-05.
- ^ ALP. "Association for Logic Programming (ALP)". Retrieved 2008-03-05.
- ^ What makes a 5GL?