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Programming Language

Modula-2

Procedural Language

Modula-2 is a structured, procedural programming language designed by Niklaus Wirth at ETH Zurich between 1977 and 1985 as a successor to his earlier language Pascal, incorporating modules, a facility for grouping related declarations and definitions, as a fundamental building block alongside Pascal's original constructs. Modula-2 was used for a wide range of applications including systems programming, and its module concept influenced the design of many later languages.

Facts
First Released
1978 1
Paradigm
Imperative, structured, modular, data and procedure hiding, concurrent 2
Significance
Many other current programming languages have adopted features of Modula-2 2
Classification
Typing Discipline
Statically Typed 1
Typing Discipline
Strongly Typed 1
FAQs

Why did Niklaus Wirth design Modula-2?

Wirth built Modula-2 to write all the software of the Lilith workstation, using modules to develop system parts independently.

Wirth planned Modula-2 as a full-scale language for implementing the entire software for the planned personal workstation Lilith, which had to include device drivers and the storage allocator as well as applications. To make that practical he kept Pascal's strict static typing but added modules, which let parts of a system be developed independently and then bound together by the linking loader into a consistent whole.
Connections

Base Language For

Modula-3, Programming Languages

General knowledge, not independently re-fetched: Modula-3 (DEC/Olivetti, 1988) was designed as a successor combining Modula-2 with ideas from Cedar/Mesa.

Built On

Pascal, Programming Languages

General knowledge, not independently re-fetched: Wirth designed Modula-2 (1978) as a successor to Pascal, adding modules and coroutines.

Follows Typing Discipline

Static Typing, Concepts
Strong Typing, Concepts

In Field

Programming Language Theory, Fields
Source Modula-2, Wikipedia

Influenced

Lua, Programming Languages
Source Wikidata: Lua
Modula-3, Programming Languages
Source Wikidata: Modula-3

Influenced By

Mesa (programming language), Programming Languages
Source Wikidata: Modula-2

Invented By

Niklaus Wirth, Pioneers
Source Wikidata: Modula-2

Predecessor Of

Oberon, Programming Languages

General knowledge, not independently re-fetched: Niklaus Wirth designed Oberon (1987) as a simplified successor to Modula-2.

Sources
1. Wikidata: Modula-2
  • Wikidata Q777358, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
  • Wikidata Q777358 P571 (inception)
  • Wikidata Q777358 P7078 (typing discipline)
View the Source
2. Modula-2, Wikipedia
  • Infobox: released
    1978
  • Infobox: paradigms
    imperative, structured, modular, data and procedure hiding, concurrent
  • Lead section
    Many other current programming languages have adopted features of Modula-2
  • In Field: Programming Language Theory, Lead sentence
    Modula-2 is a structured, procedural programming language developed between 1977 and 1985/8 by Niklaus Wirth at ETH Zurich.
View the Source
Programming Language Database (PLDB): Modula-2 - PLDB
Programming Language Database (PLDB)In Group: ALGOL-Derived Languages, Page text
Quote, In Group: ALGOL-Derived Languages, Page text
as a revision of Pascal
View the Source
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