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It was the initial IBM FORTRAN written in 704 assembler. Very much an optimizing compiler.

• wglb 5y ago
  Not quite. The idea of "basic blocks", key to optimizing compiler, was invented by the team that wrote the Fortran I compiler in Fortran I. See https://ucla-biostat-257-2020spring.github.io/readings/fortran.pdf https://ucla-biostat-257-2020spring.github.io/readings/fortr...
  • rst 5y ago
    The first Fortran I compiler is the one pinewurst was referring to, and it was written for the 704 -- in 704 assembly. Source code is here -- this is Fortran II (basically Fortran I plus provision for separately compiled subprograms), but obviously still assembly: http://www.softwarepreservation.org/projects/FORTRAN/index.html#Source_code http://www.softwarepreservation.org/projects/FORTRAN/index.h... (The article in the course reading you cited also correctly states that the compiler was written in assembly, for the 704.)
    • wglb 5y ago
      That is why I posted the question about "optomizing" compiler.
      • rst 5y ago
        Not sure what you mean here... Fortran I had a damn good optimizer, and the papers on it introduced a whole lot of terminology (e.g., as above, "basic block") which is still in use. And it was written for the 704, in assembly.