Mainframe Classic Systems Web Mobile Modern

Code Archaeology

101 ways to say Hello World.

OK… that was just a catchy title. A personal tour through the languages, machines and eras that shaped a lifetime in software.

From COBOL and FORTRAN to Flutter, SwiftUI and modern web apps.

Not just syntax — memories, scars, favorites and old friends.

01 · Mainframe

COBOL

aka my first love

IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
PROGRAM-ID. HELLO WORLD.
AUTHOR. NICK DORALP.
ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
DATA DIVISION.
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
START-PGM.
    DISPLAY "HELLO WORLD!" UPON CONSOLE.
    STOP RUN.

02 · Classic

FORTRAN II

early scientific computing

C -- BY NICK DORALP
PRINT *, "HELLO WORLD!"

03 · Classic

FORTRAN IV

my second first love

C -- BY NICK DORALP
WRITE(4,10)
10 FORMAT(' HELLO WORLD!')
END

04 · Mainframe

Assembler 370

OK… this is my favorite love

HELLO    CSECT
         STM   14,12,12(13)
         LA    1,MSG
         WTO   'HELLO WORLD!'
         LM    14,12,12(13)
         BR    14
MSG      DC    C'HELLO WORLD'
         END   HELLO

05 · Systems

C

how can I not love this one

#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
    printf("Hello, World!");
    return 0;
}

06 · Systems

C++

C with attitude

#include <iostream>

int main() {
    std::cout << "Hello World!";
    return 0;
}

07 · Classic

BASIC

simple, direct, dangerous

10 PRINT "Hello World!"
20 GOTO 10

08 · Classic

Visual Basic

Windows-era productivity

Imports System

Module Module1
   Sub Main()
      Console.WriteLine("Hello World!")
   End Sub
End Module

09 · Web

PERL

the duct tape era

#!/usr/bin/perl

use strict;
use warnings;

print("Hello World\n");

10 · Modern

Python

minimal and civilized

print("Hello, world!")

11 · Mainframe

REXX

mainframe scripting comfort food

/*
Sample REXX Program
by Nick Doralp
*/

SAY 'Hello world!'

12 · Mobile

Flutter / Dart

these days we are really hanging out together

import 'package:flutter/material.dart';

void main() {
  runApp(const NicksHelloWorld());
}

class NicksHelloWorld extends StatelessWidget {
  const NicksHelloWorld({super.key});

  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return const MaterialApp(
      home: Scaffold(
        body: Center(child: Text('Hello World')),
      ),
    );
  }
}

13 · Mobile

SwiftUI

clean and elegant

import SwiftUI

struct ContentView: View {
    var body: some View {
        Text("Hello, World!")
    }
}

14 · Classic

ALGOL

old-school structure

BEGIN
  FILE F (KIND=REMOTE);
  EBCDIC ARRAY E [0:11];
  REPLACE E BY "HELLO WORLD!";
  WHILE TRUE DO
  BEGIN
    WRITE (F, *, E);
  END;
END.

15 · Mainframe

PL/I

serious enterprise DNA

HELLO: PROCEDURE OPTIONS (MAIN);

  FLAG = 0;

  LOOP: DO WHILE (FLAG = 0);
    PUT SKIP DATA('HELLO WORLD!');
  END LOOP;

END HELLO;

16 · Web

HTML

the web begins

<html>
<head>
  <title>Hello World Example</title>
</head>
<body>
  <center><h1>Hello World!</h1></center>
</body>
</html>

17 · Web

Java

enterprise workhorse

class HelloWorld {
    public static void main(String args[]) {
        System.out.println("Hello world!");
    }
}

18 · Web

JavaScript

from browser tricks to everything

<script>
function hello() {
    alert("Hello World!");
}
</script>

<button onclick="hello()">Click me</button>

19 · Web

Google Apps Script

I have only nice things to say about you

function HelloWorld() {
  var msg = "Hello World!";
  console.log(msg);
}

20 · Mobile

Kotlin

modern Android comfort

fun main(args: Array<String>) {
    println("Hello, World!")
}

21 · Systems

Assembler x86

for PC

name "hello"
org 100h

jmp start
msg db "Hello, World!", 0Dh, 0Ah, 24h

start:
    mov dx, msg
    mov ah, 09h
    int 21h
    mov ah, 0
    int 16h

ret

22 · Mainframe

Univac 1100

we had good times together

// UNIVAC 1100 era placeholder
// Some machines deserve respect even when the syntax is hard to remember.

DISPLAY "HELLO WORLD"

23 · Web

PHP

what would I do without you

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<body>
  <h1><?php echo 'Hello, World!'; ?></h1>
</body>
</html>

24 · Mainframe

RPG-IV

business systems never die

**free
dsply 'Hello World';
return;

25 · Classic

Pascal

clear and old-school

program Hello;
begin
  writeln ('Hello, world.');
end.