Progress

1980: C
printf ("% 10.2f", x);

1988: C ++
cout << setw (10) << setprecision (2) << showpoint << x;

1996: Java
java.text.NumberFormat formatter = java.text.NumberFormat.getNumberInstance ();
formatter.setMinimumFractionDigits (2);
formatter.setMaximumFractionDigits (2);
String s = formatter.format (x); for (int i = s.length (); i <10; i ++) System.out.print (''); System.out.print (s);
')
2004: Java
System.out.printf ("% 10.2f", x);