Learn MODULA2 with Real Code Examples

Modula-2 emphasizes modularity, strong typing, and separate compilation of modules.

It introduces a module system to organize code, enabling encapsulation and namespace management.

Widely used in academia for teaching structured and systems programming, and in embedded or systems-level applications.

Procedures, functions, and type-safe operations

Modules with exported and hidden interfaces

Record and array data structures

Set, pointer, and enumeration types

Control structures: IF, CASE, WHILE, FOR, REPEAT

Variables, constants, and types

Procedures and functions

Modules for encapsulation

Control structures (IF, CASE, loops)

Data structures: arrays, records, sets, pointers

Modules/ - source code files

Definitions/ - module interface files

Lib/ - standard or third-party libraries

Bin/ - compiled object files and executables

Docs/ - documentation and project notes

Design program architecture using modules

Define interfaces in module definition files

Implement module procedures and functions

Compile individual modules separately

Link modules to form the final executable

Beginner: small console-based Modula-2 programs

Intermediate: multi-module academic projects

Advanced: systems programming with OS or embedded targets

Expert: building compilers or modular software architectures

Enterprise: legacy systems requiring Modula-2 maintenance

Successor to Pascal with modular features

Stronger type safety and separate compilation

Less flexible than modern object-oriented languages

Excellent for structured and systems programming

Smaller ecosystem than C or Python

1978 – Developed by Niklaus Wirth at ETH Zurich

1980s – Adopted in academic courses for structured programming

1985 – ISO standardization

1990s – Niche use in embedded and OS development

2025 – Primarily studied in computer science education

Module: encapsulated code unit with interface and implementation

Procedure: subroutine with optional parameters

Record: structured data type

Pointer: reference to memory location

Separate compilation: compiling modules independently