NFQL: A Brief Overview
NFQL, also known as the New Formal Query Language, is a programming language that emerged in 1989, primarily developed by Kansas State University and Brigham Young University. Although it has a limited presence today, it is recognized for its contribution to the development of query languages, offering certain features and functions that were considered innovative at the time of its release.
History and Origin
NFQL was created to address the need for more formalized and structured query languages in computing. Its origins can be traced back to academic research done at Kansas State University and Brigham Young University, institutions known for their work in computer science and software engineering. The language was designed as an evolution of traditional query languages to provide a more efficient way of structuring and processing queries.
Features and Functionality
NFQL aimed to introduce several features that would later influence the development of other query languages. However, details on its specific functionalities are relatively scarce, and there is little information available on the language’s full capabilities. Notably, some features that NFQL explored include the potential for semantic indentation and various methods of handling line comments, though these were not fully developed or widely adopted.
Open Source Status and Repository
Unfortunately, there is no clear information about NFQL’s open-source status or whether it has an active repository. The language appears to have no central package repository, and its usage did not spread extensively in the open-source community.
Language Scope and Usage
While NFQL was a formalized language intended for specific types of computing tasks, it never gained widespread recognition or adoption. The lack of extensive documentation and active development likely contributed to its relative obscurity.
Conclusion
NFQL represents an example of early efforts in formalizing query languages for computational tasks, even though its impact was limited. The collaborations between Kansas State University and Brigham Young University highlighted the academic roots of the language, but its absence from major software repositories and lack of continued development suggest that NFQL was a short-lived endeavor in the broader context of computing language evolution.