Who developed first compiler?

Question

I wonder how compiler creation evolved. I would like to learn theory from original sources. And just to pay respect to original inventors. Wikipedia can't give me coherent answers. It looks like Wikipedia just referencing to some sources that argue that first compiler is Fortran. But I'm bit sure that this is true, because Fortran was kept by IBM. And influence on the knowledge of compiling was very limited. Also it looks like Grace Hopper created the first compiler, and I think tywat compiling theory was much more influential. What do you think guys?

Answer 1

The first compilers were written in assembly so I doubt you would understand what’s happening. I also doubt you'll find the source as the first compiler was probably made in the 50s or 60s.

Answer 2

I don't want source code. I'm not sure that humanity learned theory just by looking at others source code. There should be some theoretical background. After that I will figure out how to create interpreter/compiler by myself by using modern languages like c, cpp, java, etc

Answer 3

Why not just buy a book about compiler design?

Answer 4

I already know about dragon book, but I want to track back the most influential historical moves. I don't think Fortran "invented" compiling, this language was popular that by industrial strength behind IBM. After that was copied by other companies. but the knowledge how to make lexers, interpreters, parsers, compilers were originated from somewhere else

Answer 5

I have some books about compiler theory but I think I need to learn to think by myself by reading scholar papers, not just be guided by books.

Answer 6

Fortran was the first serious compiled language.

Compilation is simply the transformation of one language to another. If you want to learn to do compilers, learn assembly first - as that's what you're going to probably want to translate high-level languages into. The dragon book should have you covered from there.