[go: up one dir, main page]
Scribd
Upload
7 views19 pages

Levels of Programming Languages

The document discusses the evolution of programming languages, categorizing them into low-level (first and second generation) and high-level (third generation) languages. It explains the characteristics of low-level languages, such as machine code and assembly language, and contrasts them with high-level languages that use English-like statements for easier programming. Additionally, it covers the roles of translators, compilers, and interpreters in converting code into machine-readable format, as well as the features of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) that facilitate coding and debugging.

Uploaded by

pbn3523
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
7 views19 pages

Levels of Programming Languages

The document discusses the evolution of programming languages, categorizing them into low-level (first and second generation) and high-level (third generation) languages. It explains the characteristics of low-level languages, such as machine code and assembly language, and contrasts them with high-level languages that use English-like statements for easier programming. Additionally, it covers the roles of translators, compilers, and interpreters in converting code into machine-readable format, as well as the features of Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) that facilitate coding and debugging.

Uploaded by

pbn3523
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 19

Ch#4.

Levels of Programming Languages


What is a programming language?
• A programming language acts as a bridge between what humans
understand and what a computer understands
• Early computers were complex and instructions would have to be
in written in binary code, 0s and 1s
• This process was slow, taking days to program simple tasks
• Over time, new generations of programming languages have
enabled people to become faster and more efficient at writing
programs as they resemble human language
• Generations of programming languages can be split in to two
categories:
– Low-level
• First generation
• Second generation
– High-level
• Third generation
Low-Level Languages
What is a low-level language?
A low-level language is a programming language
that directly translates to machine code understood
by the processor
Low-level languages allow direct control over
hardware components such as memory and registers
These languages are written for specific processors to
ensure they embed the correct machine architecture
First generation
Machine code is a first-generation language
Instructions are directly executable by the processor
Written in binary code
• Second generation
• Assembly code is a second-generation language
• The code is written using mnemonics, abbreviated text
commands such as LDA (Load), STA(Store)
• Using this language programmers can write human-
readable programs that correspond almost exactly to
machine code
• One assembly language instruction translates to one
machine code instruction
• Needs to be translated into machine code for the
computer to be able to execute it
What is a high-level language?

• A high-level programming language uses English-like statements to allow


users to program with easy to use code
• High-level languages allow for clear debugging and once programs are
created they are easier to maintain
• High level languages were needed due to the development of processor
speeds and the increase in memory capacity
• One instruction translates into many machine code instructions
• Needs to be translated into machine code for the computer to be able to
execute it
• Examples of high-level languages include:
– Python
– Java
– Basic
– C+
•
Assembly Language
• What is assembly language?
• Assembly language is a second generation, low-level language designed to simplify the
writing of machine code instructions for programmers
• Programmers use assembly language for the following reasons:
– Need to make use of specific hardware or parts of the hardware
– To complete specific machine dependent instructions
– To ensure that too much space is not taken up in RAM
– To ensure code can completed much faster
• Assembly languages allow programmers to program with mnemonics. e.g.
– LDA Load - this will ensure a value is added to the accumulator
– ADD Addition - this will add the value input or loaded from memory to the value in the
accumulator
– STO, Store - stores the value in the accumulator in RAM
• Assembly language allowed continuation of working directly with the hardware but
removed an element of complexity
• A mnemonic is received by the computer and it is looked up within a specific table
• An assembler is needed to check the word so that it can be converted into machine
code
• If a match from the word is found e.g. STO the word is replaced with the relevant
binary code to match that sequence
Translators, Compilers & Interpreters

• What is a translator?
• A translator is a program that translates program source
code into machine code so that it can executed directly by a processor
• Low-level languages such as assembly code are translated using
an assembler
• High-level languages such as Python are translated using
a compiler or interpreter
• What is a compiler?
• A compiler translates high-level languages into machine code all in one go
• Compilers are generally used when a program is finished and has been
checked for syntax errors
• Compiled code can be distributed (creates an executable) and
run without the need for translation software
• If compiled code contains any errors, after fixing, it will need re-compiling
What is an interpreter?

• An interpreter translates high-level languages


into machine code one line at a time
• Each line is executed after translation and if any
errors are found, the process stops
• Interpreters are generally used when a program is
being written in the development stage
• Interpreted code is more difficult to
distribute as translation software is needed for it
to run
• Worked Example
• A computer program is written in a high-level programming language.
• (a) State why the computer needs to translate the code before it is executed.[1]

• (b) Either a compiler or an interpreter can translate the code. Describe two differences between how a compiler
and an interpreter would translate the code.[2]
• How to answer this question
• (a) what time of language does a computer understand?
• (b) the keyword is 'how'
• Answer
• (a)
• To convert it to binary/machine code
• The processor can only understand machine code
• (b)
• Compiler translates all the code in one go...
• ...whereas an interpreter translates one line at a time
• Compiler creates an executable...
• ...whereas an interpreter does not/executes one line at a time
• Compiler reports an error at the end...
• ...whereas an interpreter stops when it finds an error
Tools & Facilities in IDEs

• What is an IDE?
• An Integrated Development Environment (IDE)
is software designed to make writing high-level
languages more efficient
• IDEs include tools and facilities to make
the process of creating/maintaining code
easier, such as:
– Editor
– Error diagnostics
– Run-time environment
– Translators
• Editor
• An editor gives users an environment to write, edit
and maintain high-level code
• Editors can provide:
– Basic code formatting tools - changing the font, size of the
font and making text bold etc
– Prettyprint - using colour to make it easier to identify
keywords, for example 'print', 'input' and 'if' in Python
– Code editing - auto-completion and auto-correction of
code, bracket matching and syntax checks
– Commenting code - allows sections of code to be
commented out easily to stop it from being run or as
comments on what the program is doing
Error-diagnostics

Tools that help to identify, understand and fix


errors in code, such as:
Identifying errors - highlight particular areas of
code or provide direct error messages where
the error may have appeared e.g. indentation
errors etc
Debugger - provide a 'step through' command
which provides step by step instructions and
shows what is happening to the code line by
line, useful for finding logic errors
Run-time environment

Gives users the ability to run and see


the corresponding output of a high-level language
Translator
Built in to compile or interpret code without the need
for an extra piece of software

You might also like