How was computer programming invented?

Answer 1

Computer programming was a big thing, especially since it was needed for computers to operate.

The first "official" computer programming language was invented for the "Tabulator", a machine in 1896 which later became acquired by IBM. It's job was to read a punchcard, and depending on how it was punched, the computer would perform the indicated operations.

Jumping ahead, Fortran was invented, which was the first language to have functional implementation. Programmers were able to do direct calulations, and the compiler was invented around now, which changed the inputted text into machine code. Even then punch cards or paper tape was used to physically input the data into the computer.

Then computers began making leaps and bound in terms of processing power. Languages that would have otherwise been seen as too much overhead, were now more usable. The rest is history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_programming