7.1 Introduction to Programming Language
7.2 Types of programming languages
7.3 Programming tools: flowchart and algorithm
7.4 Introduction to coding, testing, and debugging
7.5 Compiler and interpreter
A programming language is a
language consisting of a set of instructions provided by the user that tells a
computer what task to do and how to do it.
We use a programming language to communicate
with computers and tell them what to do. It helps us create apps, games,
websites, and much more.
Python, Java, PHP, C++, etc. are
some examples of popular programming languages.
Programming
It is the process of providing
detailed instructions to a computer step by step to do specific tasks.
Programmer
A programmer is a person who is
involved in writing computer programs.
Syntax
The rule for writing commands is
called syntax.
7.2 Types of programming languages
·
High-level
programming language
·
Low-level
programming language
High-level programming language
·
A
high-level programming language is a type of programming language that
is easy for humans to read, write, and understand.
·
It uses English-like words and symbols to
create computer programs and needs to be translated into machine language using
a compiler or interpreter.
·
Programs
written in high-level languages are called program code, and they’re readable
to humans but not to computers.
·
Examples:
Python, Java, C++, PHP etc.
Low-level programming language
·
Low
level programming language is a type of programming language which consist of
0s and 1s and directly understood by computers.
·
Programs
are written in the form of machine code, which is difficult for humans to
understand without specialized knowledge.
·
Machine
language and Assembly language are the types of low level programming language.
·
Machine
language is a type of low level programming language which consists of binary
code (0s and 1s) that the computer's CPU understands directly. Example:
10101100 01011101
·
Assembly
Language is a human-readable form of machine language which uses symbolic codes
or mnemonics (e.g., MOV, ADD, SUB) instead of binary.
·
Requires
an assembler to convert the assembly code into machine code. Example: MOV AX, 5
; ADD AX, 3
High level language Vs Low level
language
|
Low-Level Language |
High-Level
Language |
|
Close to computer
hardware (machine) |
Close to human
language (English-like) |
|
Hard to understand
and write |
Easy to read, write,
and learn |
|
Very fast and
powerful |
Slower but more
user-friendly |
|
Example: Machine
code, Assembly language |
Example: Python,
Java, JavaScript |
High-level languages are better for
beginners because:
- They
are easy to read and write
- Use
English-like words
- Require
less time to learn
- Help
beginners focus on solving problems instead of writing complex code
7.3 Programming tools: Flowchart
and Algorithm
Algorithm
An algorithm is a set of
step-by-step instructions designed to solve a specific problem or perform a
particular task.
It begins with “start” and ends
with “stop.”
The instructions are written in
simple, general language (like spoken languages).
Flowchart
A flowchart is defined as the
pictorial and graphical representation of an algorithm.
It uses shapes like rectangles,
diamonds, and arrows to show the steps in the process.
The shapes have distinct meanings
in a flowchart
The table below shows shapes used
in flowchart and their meaning:
We use flowcharts in programming
because:
- They
help us visualize the process before writing code.
- They
make it easier to understand how the program works.
- They
help in debugging by showing where things might go wrong.
- They
make complex processes simpler to follow.
7.4 Coding, testing and debugging
Coding
Coding is the process of writing
instructions in a programming language to create software or applications.
These instructions, known as code, tell the computer exactly what tasks to
perform.
Testing
Testing is the process of running program
to make sure it works correctly.
Once the code is written, testing
is conducted to ensure the program functions as expected.
This involves running the program
to identify any errors or bugs and verifying that all parts of the program work
correctly.
The purpose of testing a program is
to make sure that the program works correctly and produces the expected
results. Testing helps us identify errors or bugs in the code before it is used
in real-world situations.
Debugging
Debugging is the process of finding and
fixing mistakes (called bugs) in the code.
If testing reveals any errors or
bugs, the process of debugging begins.
Bugs can occur because of simple
mistakes like missing a comma, using the wrong variable, or logical errors.
Debugging is important because:
- It
helps ensure that the program runs correctly.
- It
allows us to find and fix errors that can cause the program to fail.
- It
makes the program more reliable and stable.
- Without
debugging, programs might give incorrect results or crash, which can be
frustrating for users.
7.5 Compiler and Interpreter
Compiler
A compiler is a translator of
computer programs that translate the entire high-level language into machine
level programming language in a single operation on a computer.
Examples: JAVA, C#, C, C++, FORTRAN, etc.
Interpreter
Interpreter is a translator of
computer programs that translate high-level language into machine level
programming language one instruction (line of code) and then moves on to the
other line.
Examples: Python, Ruby, Qbasic,
JavaScript etc.
An Assembler is a special tool that
translates programs written in Assembly language into machine code, which the
computer can understand
No comments:
Post a Comment