Modula-3 is a modern programming language that supports interfaces, objects, generics, lightweight threads of control, the isolation of unsafe code, garbage collection, exceptions, and subtyping.
It was explicitly designed to be substantially simpler than other languages with comparable power, in order to facilitate the construction of large, robust applications. (Design History)
If this reminds you of Java, that's no accident. Though the syntax of Java is derived from C++, many key improvements descend directly from Modula-3. An implementation from Critical Mass even allows mix-and-match integration with Java.
The language was first defined in 1989 and later revised in 1991. Except for a few minor corrections, the language definition has been stable over the subsequent years.
Interest in Modula-3 is growing, both in industry and academia. Due to recent activity, a second revision of the language may result, incorporating such niceties as support for Unicode. Like Linux, Modula-3 is a powerful piece of software built and maintained by enthusiastic programmers.
Last Updated: July 23, 1998
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