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Programming Languages

This document discusses different types of programming languages. It describes low-level languages like machine language and assembly language which are closer to machine code. It also describes high-level languages like BASIC, COBOL and Pascal which use English-like syntax. High-level languages are easier for humans to read and write but require translation before execution. The document contrasts the advantages and disadvantages of both low-level and high-level languages.

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Taonaishe Hastings Muzavazi
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12 views

Programming Languages

This document discusses different types of programming languages. It describes low-level languages like machine language and assembly language which are closer to machine code. It also describes high-level languages like BASIC, COBOL and Pascal which use English-like syntax. High-level languages are easier for humans to read and write but require translation before execution. The document contrasts the advantages and disadvantages of both low-level and high-level languages.

Uploaded by

Taonaishe Hastings Muzavazi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES

- A programming language is a set of symbols in computer language that are used in coding
computer programs.
- A programming language is a specially written code used for writing application programs
e.g. C, Pascal, COBOL, BASIC, Visual Basic, C++ and Java (Originally for intelligent
consumer-electronic devices (cell phones), then used for creating Web pages with dynamic
content, now also used for developing large-scale enterprise applications)
- Program: a set of detailed and unambiguous instructions that instructs a computer to perform
a specific task, for example, to add a set of numbers.
- Programming: A process of designing, coding and testing computer programs
- Programmer: A person who specialises in designing, coding and testing computer programs
- Problem: any question or matter involving difficulty or uncertainty and is proposed for a
computer solution.

TYPES OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES


1. Low Level Languages (LLL):
- These are programming languages used to write programs in machine code (i.e in 1s and 0s)
or in mnemonic codes.
- Low level languages are machine oriented (machine specific).
- Low level language is in two forms:
(a) Machine Language and
(b) Assembly Language.

a. Machine code (language)


- Is the language used to write programs in binary form (1s and 0s).
- Machine code executes without translation.
- Machine language has the following advantages:
 Programs run faster since they are already in computer language. There is no need
for conversion as programs are in machine language.
 Programs occupy very small disc storage space by storing just 1s and 0s.

Disadvantages of Machine language:


- They are very difficult to learn.
- They are difficult to understand.
- Very difficult to use and therefore very few programmers use them these days.
- It takes too long to debug and therefore is prone to some errors.
- It takes too long to develop working programs.
- They are machine dependent (they can only work on type of computer designed for and
not work on other computers)

b. Assembly Language:
- These are programming languages that use mnemonic codes in coding programs.
- Mnemonic codes are abbreviations used to represent instructions when coding assembly
language programs, for example, LDA for Load, ADD for Addition, etc.
- One assembly language statement is equivalent to one machine code instruction and
therefore programming lengthy and time consuming.
- However, assembly language programs are efficient.
- Programs also run faster as they are closer to machine language and therefore are used in
designing programs that needs efficient timing, e.g. games like chess, operating systems,
etc.
- Assembly language is used when there is need to access registers and memory addresses
directly.
- Assembly language instructions also occupy very little disc storage space.
- Mnemonic codes are very close to machine code, hence are low level language assembly
language codes.
- They however run on specific computer architecture since they are hardware aligned.
- They also contain different forms of instruction, e.g. jump, control, arithmetic, etc.
- Assembly language allows immediate, direct and other forms of memory addressing.
Application: Assembly language is used in:
- Coding operating systems
- Coding device drivers
- Coding programs for embedded systems like DVD players, decoders, etc.
- Coding encryption software

Advantages of Assembly language:


- One assembly language instruction corresponds to one machine code instruction and
therefore translation is easier and faster to code.
- Programs run faster since they are close to machine code.
- They occupy very small disk storage space hence are economical to use.
- Easier for a programmer to use than machine language.

Disadvantages of Assembly Language


- They are very difficult to learn.
- They are very difficult to understand.
- Takes too long to develop working programs.
- They can be machine dependent (machine oriented) unless the machines use the same
processor chip.

2. High Level Languages (HLL):


- These are programming languages that use English-like statements in coding programs, for
example COBOL, Pascal, BASIC, etc.
- High Level languages are mostly used for developing user applications like stock control
systems, personnel records, etc.
- There are so many high level languages because of competition from designers who want
to outpace each other.
- It can also be due to the fact that we have so many application areas in real life so each high
level language is designed for a specific problem (problem oriented/problem specific) to be
solved in our daily lives, for example BASIC was designed for learning purposes, COBOL
for business applications, FORTRAN for scientific purposes, etc.
- High Level languages are independent of the architecture of the computer.
- One statement is translated into several equivalent machine code instructions before it is
executed.
- Below is an example of a BASIC program that accepts two numbers entered through the
keyboard, adds them and display the result on the screen:
INPUT “ENTER FIRST NUMBER.”, A
INPUT “ENTER SECOND NUMBER.”, B
SUM = A + B
PRINT SUM
END

- Programs written in High Level Language are first converted to machine code before
running.
High level languages have the following features:
- Problem oriented (Machine independent): they are designed to solve an application
problem and therefore runs on any machine
- They are portable: they can be transferred from one machine to another and run without
problem.
- Instructions are written in English statements which are easier to understand.

Facilities of High Level Languages


The following facilities of high level languages are not found in low level languages
- Selection structures
- Iteration structures
- Built-in routines to simplify input and output, e.g. INPUT, PRINT, PRINTLN, etc in
BASIC.
- Built-in functions like sqr, sqrt, val, etc.
- Data structures like strings, arrays, records, etc.
- User-defined functions.

Advantages of High Level Languages:


- They are easier to understand since they are written in English-like statements which
are more readable.
- They are easier to learn.
- It is easier to work with, that is to correct errors (debug) and to test programs.
- They are problem oriented and therefore can be used on any computer (not machine
dependent)

Disadvantages of HLL
- Takes long to run since they need to be first converted to machine code.
- They occupy a lot of disk storage space as compared to low level languages.

Types Of High Level Languages/Programming Paradigms


- Programming paradigm refers to methods used to categorise high level languages in terms
of organising principles used by the designers. It is pattern that serves as a school of thought
for programming of computers.
- Such programming paradigms are as follows:
 Imperative/procedural languages
 Declarative languages
 General purpose languages
 Special purpose languages
 Object oriented languages (OOP)

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