`:top

A `!program`! is a set of instructions used to control the behavior of a `F33f`_`[machine`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Machine]`_`f. Examples of such programs include:

• The sequence of `F33f`_`[cards`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Punched_card]`_`f used by a `F33f`_`[Jacquard loom`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Jacquard_loom]`_`f to produce a given pattern within weaved `F33f`_`[cloth`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Cloth]`_`f. Invented in 1801, it used holes in punched cards to represent sewing loom arm movements in order to generate decorative patterns automatically.

• A `F33f`_`[computer program`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Computer_program]`_`f (`F33f`_`[software`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Software]`_`f) is a list of instructions to be executed by a computer.

• Barrels, punched cards and `F33f`_`[music rolls`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Music_roll]`_`f encoding music to be played by `F33f`_`[player pianos`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Player_piano]`_`f, `F33f`_`[fairground organs`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Fairground_organ]`_`f, `F33f`_`[barrel organs`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Barrel_organ]`_`f and `F33f`_`[music boxes`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Musical_box]`_`f.

• The automatic flute player, which was invented in the 9th century by the `F33f`_`[Banū Mūsā brothers`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Banū_Mūsā_brothers]`_`f in `F33f`_`[Baghdad`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Baghdad]`_`f, is the first known example of a programmable machine. The work of the Banu Musa was influenced by their Hellenistic forebears, but it also makes significant improvements over Greek creation.`:cite-ref-1[`F5bf`_`[1`#cite-note-1]`_`f] The pinned-barrel mechanism, which allowed for programmable variations in the rhythm and melody of the music, was the key contribution given by the Banu Musa.`:cite-ref-2[`F5bf`_`[2`#cite-note-2]`_`f] In 1206, the Muslim inventor `F33f`_`[Al-Jazari`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Al-Jazari]`_`f (in the `F33f`_`[Artuqid Sultnate`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Artuqids]`_`f) described a `F33f`_`[drum machine`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Drum_machine]`_`f which may have been an example of a programmable automaton.`:cite-ref-sharkey-3-0[`F5bf`_`[3`#cite-note-sharkey-3]`_`f]

The execution of a program is a series of actions following the instructions it contains. Each instruction produces effects that alter the state of the machine according to its predefined meaning.

While some machines are called `!programmable`!, for example a `F33f`_`[programmable thermostat`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Programmable_thermostat]`_`f or a musical `F33f`_`[synthesizer`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Synthesizer]`_`f, they are in fact just devices which allow their users to select among a fixed set of a variety of options, rather than being controlled by programs written in a language (be it textual, visual or otherwise).

>>References

`:cite-note-1`!1.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-1]`_`f `:citerefkoetsier2001`aKoetsier, Teun (2001-05-01). "On the prehistory of programmable machines: musical automata, looms, calculators". `*Mechanism and Machine Theory`*. `!36`! (5): 589–603. `F33f`_`[doi`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Doi_(identifier)]`_`f:10.1016/S0094-114X(01)00005-2. `F33f`_`[ISSN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISSN_(identifier)]`_`f 0094-114X.

`:cite-note-2`!2.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-2]`_`f `:citerefkapurcarnegiemurphylong2017`aKapur, Ajay; Carnegie, Dale; Murphy, Jim; Long, Jason (2017). "Loudspeakers Optional: A history of non-loudspeaker-based electroacoustic music". `*`F33f`_`[Organised Sound`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Organised_Sound]`_`f`*. `!22`! (2). `F33f`_`[Cambridge University Press`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Cambridge_University_Press]`_`f: 195–205. `F33f`_`[doi`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Doi_(identifier)]`_`f:10.1017/S1355771817000103. `F33f`_`[ISSN`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=ISSN_(identifier)]`_`f 1355-7718.

`:cite-note-sharkey-3`!3.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-sharkey-3-0]`_`f `F33f`_`[Professor Noel Sharkey`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Noel_Sharkey]`_`f, A 13th Century Programmable Robot (Archive), `F33f`_`[University of Sheffield`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=University_of_Sheffield]`_`f, 2007

`c`F0af`_`[↑ Back to top`#top]`_`f`a