Overview

Peter Naur was a Danish scientist whose work helped shape early programming language design and the practice of software development. Trained originally in the natural sciences, Naur became widely known for his contributions to the specification of the ALGOL language family and for his association with the Backus–Naur Form notation used to describe programming language syntax. He was honored with the ACM A.M. Turing Award late in his life for these foundational contributions.

Early career and astronomy

Naur began his professional life as an astronomer, receiving a PhD in the mid-1950s. His training in rigorous scientific methods and mathematical thinking provided a basis for later work in computing during a period when the two fields were closely intertwined. Through the 1950s and 1960s he moved from astronomical research into the emerging field of electronic computing.

ALGOL, syntax and Backus–Naur Form

Naur played a central role in the international effort to define ALGOL 60, a language that influenced many later programming languages and established ideas about structured programming and formal language description. His name is associated with Backus–Naur Form (BNF), the concise metalanguage used to express the grammar of programming languages; while the notation had multiple contributors, Naur helped to apply and popularize it in the formal specification of ALGOL.

Academic work and philosophy

From 1969 until his retirement in 1998 he was a professor at the University of Copenhagen, where he influenced generations of students and researchers. Naur advocated thinking about computing as a human activity and preferred the term "datalogy" over "computer science" to emphasize study of data and its processing rather than machines alone. He also wrote and lectured on methodology and the practice of programming, urging attention to human understanding and problem solving.

Contributions and legacy

Key contributions often credited to Naur include his editorial and technical work on ALGOL definitions, promotion of formal grammar notation, and his critique of overly formal approaches to software engineering in favor of pragmatic, human-centered methods. His recognition with the ACM A.M. Turing Award highlights the lasting influence of these efforts. Beyond awards, Naur's work helped set standards for how languages are described and how programming became a disciplined activity.

Notable facts

  • Naur bridged disciplines: from astronomy to computer language design and teaching.
  • His name appears in the widely used term Backus–Naur Form, linking him to language syntax specification.
  • He spent much of his career shaping education and research in computer science and related fields.

Peter Naur died in January 2016. His work remains part of the foundation for modern language design, compiler theory, and discussions about the human side of computing.