$ Grace Hopper

1906–1992
Compiler pioneer

Developed early compilers (A-0/A-2, FLOW-MATIC), drove COBOL standardization (CODASYL), and popularized the practice of “debugging.”

compilerFLOW-MATICCOBOLCODASYLUS Navy

$ contributions

  • Designed the A-0 and A-2 systems (early compilers) translating symbolic code to machine code
  • Led the design of FLOW-MATIC, the first English-like data-processing language for business
  • Influenced and guided CODASYL efforts that produced COBOL and its standardization trajectory
  • Popularized “debugging” (famously documenting a moth found in hardware) and pragmatic software engineering practices
  • Advanced the use of language-agnostic, English-like specifications to broaden programming access

$ awards

  • National Medal of Technology and Innovation (1991)
  • Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016, posthumous)
“The most dangerous phrase in the language is “We’ve always done it this way.””

$ references

WikipediaNaval History and Heritage CommandComputer History MuseumPresidential Medal of Freedom (2016)