In the history of high-level programming languages, which language is widely regarded as the first commercially successful high-level programming language?

Introduction / Context:
Programming languages have evolved from low level machine code and assembly to powerful high level languages that are closer to human reasoning. Understanding which language is historically regarded as the first successful high level language helps you place later languages like C, Visual Basic, and Perl into context. This question asks which language is widely credited as the first commercially successful high level programming language.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on early, general purpose high level languages used commercially.
• Options include Perl, FORTRAN, Visual Basic, and C.
• We assume standard textbook summaries of programming language history.
• The question is about being first in successful high level language adoption, not the only early language ever developed.

Concept / Approach:
FORTRAN, short for Formula Translation, was introduced by IBM in the 1950s and is widely considered the first commercially successful high level programming language. It was designed for scientific and engineering calculations and allowed programmers to write formulas in a more natural way than assembly language. Languages like C, Perl, and Visual Basic came much later. C was developed in the early 1970s, Perl in the late 1980s, and Visual Basic in the early 1990s. Therefore, when general knowledge questions ask for the first high level programming language in mainstream commercial use, FORTRAN is the standard answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that FORTRAN was created in the 1950s specifically to simplify programming of scientific and mathematical computations. Step 2: Recognise that FORTRAN programs could be compiled into efficient machine code, making it practical for real world use. Step 3: Note that C, while extremely influential, appeared later and built upon earlier language concepts. Step 4: Understand that Perl and Visual Basic are much newer and largely targeted at scripting and rapid application development, not the original era of high level languages. Step 5: Compare dates: FORTRAN (1950s) predates C (1970s), Perl (1980s), and Visual Basic (1990s). Step 6: Conclude that FORTRAN is the language most widely regarded as the first commercially successful high level programming language.

Verification / Alternative check:
Introductory programming history texts almost always list FORTRAN, COBOL, and ALGOL as early high level languages, with FORTRAN generally cited as the first widely used one. Descriptions emphasise that FORTRAN allowed scientists to write formulas directly and that its compiler produced efficient code, leading to rapid adoption. In contrast, histories of C, Perl, and Visual Basic place them later in time and describe how they evolved from previous language research. This consistent timeline supports selecting FORTRAN as the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Perl: A scripting language introduced in the late 1980s, long after earlier high level languages were in use. Visual Basic: A language for rapid application development created in the 1990s, not the first high level language historically. C: Extremely important and influential, but developed after earlier languages like FORTRAN; it is not the first high level language.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners may focus on languages they personally know, such as C or Visual Basic, and assume that these must be the earliest because they are prominent in teaching materials. Another mistake is to think that scripting languages like Perl, which are high level, were also the first. To avoid these errors, remember that the history of computing stretches back to the 1950s, and FORTRAN is the classic example of an early high level language that achieved broad commercial success.

Final Answer:
The first widely recognised commercially successful high level programming language is FORTRAN.