Fourth Generation Programming Languages.

Abstract

With an ever increasing demand for new program applications and the failure of older generations of languages, such as COBOL, PL/ I, PASCAL, etc., to keep up with this increased demand, there exists a need for new techniques and approaches to programming. Greater programmer /user productivity and enhanced user friendliness, to allow more end users to develop applications on their own, are goals sought by industry in order to reduce skyrocketing backlogs of applications. This paper describes a new generation of programming languages, used in the development of business and scientific applications, that addresses and achieves these goals. The basic characteristics of Fourth Generation Languages is reviewed and the design and implementation of a Fourth Generation Language is proposed. Although Fourth Generation Languages do increase user productivity and are easier to learn and use than previous generations of languages, much research remains to be done before general end user computing becomes the norm rather than the exception.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.Captain, United States Marine Corpshttp://archive.org/details/fourthgeneration109452187