July 21, 1967
Early language that led to C documented
Martin Richards published the BCPL language manual in July 1967 — a simple systems language that directly inspired C.
What it was for
BCPL was a stripped-down language for writing compilers and operating system tools — small enough to run on limited hardware. Ken Thompson at Bell Labs studied this manual and used its ideas to build B, then Dennis Ritchie evolved B into C. Most of today's software still traces back through this chain.
Why it's here
BCPL is the missing link between academic ALGOLAlgorithmic Language — an influential family of languages that introduced structured programming and block syntax.-style languages and the C that powers UnixAn influential multitasking OS from the 1970s — files, pipes, and C shaped Linux, macOS, and BSD., Linux, and most systems software.
Why it mattered
Richards showed that a tiny language could be ported to many machines — the approach Thompson and Ritchie followed when building UnixAn influential multitasking OS from the 1970s — files, pipes, and C shaped Linux, macOS, and BSD. tools.
What it solved
Earlier language designs were too heavy to compile on small computers; systems programmers needed something lean for building tools and compilers.