In 1982, FORTRAN use was widespread. The limitations of the language were well known, and it was "obvious to all" that the languages of the future would be mor

In 1982, FORTRAN use was widespread. The limitations of the language were well known, and it was "obvious to all" that the languages of the future would be more sophisticated and overall "better" than FORTRAN. It was not "cool", but very mainstream. Taught to all engineering majors in college. And it was the go to language when COBOL wasn't a match. I interpret this statement as pointing at the tremendous inertia against change, and the fact that most of the tasks given to the computer do not require a abstraction and advanced concepts; just the "IF THEN", "DO", and assignment. I think he was off by 10 years. Even now "You can write FORTRAN in any language". I have seen javascript done this way. And it works. We can argue about how well, but it works.