Welcome to my first Jekyll post! If you’ve ever started learning programming, you probably know the phrase “Hello World.” It’s more than just a simple output—it’s a tradition, a rite of passage, and a symbol of beginning something new.
In this post, I want to take you on a journey through the history, significance, and modern use of “Hello World,” and also show you how to create your own using different programming languages.
The Origin of “Hello World”
The first known use of the phrase Hello World in a programming context was in 1978, in the book The C Programming Language by Brian Kernighan and Dennis Ritchie. This book introduced C, one of the most influential programming languages of all time.
The example was simple:
#include <stdio.h>
int main() {
printf("Hello, World!\n");
return 0;
}
This simple program prints the text Hello, World! to the screen. That’s it! But this small example has become a universal starting point for programmers around the world.
Why “Hello World” Matters
You might ask: why do programmers bother with “Hello World”? Here are a few reasons:
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Testing the Environment When you learn a new language or set up a new development environment, writing “Hello World” ensures everything is working correctly. If the program runs and prints the text, your tools are set up properly.
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Learning Syntax It’s a gentle way to start learning a new programming language. By writing the simplest program, you get a feel for how the language handles output, functions, and structure.
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Tradition Programming has a rich culture, and starting with “Hello World” is like shaking hands with the programming community across decades.
Hello World in Popular Languages
Python:
print("Hello, World!")
JavaScript (browser console):
console.log("Hello, World!");