John Backus

John Backus was an influential American computer scientist best known for developing FORTRAN, the first widely-used programming language designed to make coding scientific and mathematical problems easier for humans to write and understand. His work helped automate complex calculations, significantly advancing computer science and programming. Backus also contributed to developing techniques for improving programming language design and was awarded the Turing Award in 1977, recognizing his foundational impact on the field. His innovations made computers more accessible and efficient, shaping how software is developed today.