Computing Atlas

How Computing Was Built
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Programming Language

Short Code

Procedural Language

Short Code, also known as Shortcode or SHORT-CODE, is an early high-level programming language developed for the BINAC computer in 1949 by John Mauchly and later extended for the UNIVAC I by William Schmitt in 1950. Short Code was one of the first languages for electronic computers to be actually implemented, allowing mathematical equations to be entered in a semi-algebraic notation rather than machine code, though every statement had to be interpreted at execution time rather than compiled.

Facts
First Released
1950 1
Paradigm
procedural 2
Significance
One of the first higher-level languages developed for an electronic computer 2
Connections

Invented

John Mauchly, Pioneers
Source Wikidata: Short Code
Sources
1. Wikidata: Short Code
  • Wikidata Q2566011, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
  • Wikidata Q2566011 P571 (inception)
  • Invented: John Mauchly, Wikidata Q2566011 P178 (developer) claim -> Q522162 (John Mauchly); computing atlas pioneer entity 265825, checked 2026-09-28
View the Source
2. Short Code (computer language)
  • Infobox, released
    1950
  • Wikidata, programming paradigm (P3966)
    procedural programming
  • Lead paragraph
    Short Code was one of the first higher-level languages developed for an electronic computer.
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.