Grace Hopper, born in 1906, was a remarkable computer scientist whose innovative contributions forever shaped the field of computer science. Her work fundamentally influenced the development of early computers and laid the groundwork for many of the computing concepts we take for granted today.

Hopper's early career was marked by her passion for mathematics and physics, leading her to earn a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Yale University in 1934. Her career took a pivotal turn during World War II when she joined the United States Navy and worked on the Harvard Mark I computer, one of the first electromechanical computers. During this time, she discovered a moth trapped in a relay, coining the term "bug" for a computer glitch(Wallmark 2018).]This playful incident is still remembered in the term "debugging."

Her most enduring contribution came in the development of programming languages. She led the team that created COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) in the late 1950s. COBOL was a significant leap forward in programming, as it was one of the first high-level programming languages designed for business data processing. Hopper's work simplified programming and made it more accessible to a wider range of people. COBOL's legacy continues today, as it's still used in many legacy systems.

Hopper's advocacy for the use of English words in programming languages rather than complex symbols made coding more understandable to a broader audience. She also developed the first compiler, which translated high-level programming languages into machine code, revolutionizing the field by allowing programmers to write code that could be understood by computers.

Beyond her technical accomplishments, Hopper was a trailblazer for women in the field of computer science. She served in the U.S. Navy for 42 years, eventually reaching the rank of Rear Admiral(WINWARD 2005.).Her work in promoting the COBOL language and her educational efforts paved the way for countless women to enter the world of computer science and programming(BEYER 2002).

Grace Hopper's impact on computer science is immeasurable. Her work in programming languages, compilers, and her dedication to making computing more accessible have had a lasting influence. She was a visionary who not only broke new ground in technology but also broke down barriers for women in STEM fields. Her legacy continues to inspire and shape the future of computer science and programming.

1.BEYER, K.W., 2002.Grace Hopper and the early history of computer programming , 1944–1960, University of California, Berkeley.

2.Wallmark, L. 2018. Grace Hopper : queen of computer code. Toronto: Cela.

3.WINWARD, K.D., 2005. Grace Hopper: admiral of the cyber sea. Choice, 42(9), pp. 1612.