The purpose of this paper is to suggest and justify a framework for the history of computing that interests a wide public. The aim is to set the history of computing in the much broader context of automation, while also addressing the evolution of ideas. It suggests first a new detailed classification of programs (in the broad sense). Then it tries in particular to sketch out a “phylogenesis” of automation from the 12th to 19th centuries in Europe. It discusses various automatic devices: particularly, clocks and their annexes, but also organs, games, looms and early computers. Finally, it addresses the stored-program computer and high-level languages.