Programming languages

• What language did early computers use for programming?

  Machine code
• What was the purpose of developing more sophisticated programming systems?

  To make programming easier and more efficient
• What are assembly languages classified as?

  Second generation languages
• How do high-level languages differ from low-level languages?

  They are more productive and easier to use
• What does the CPU understand?

  Machine code
• What does each instruction in machine code perform?

  A specific task
• In early computers, how were all programs written?

  In machine code
• What format were instructions written in for early computers?

  Binary
• What was a challenge of writing programs in machine code?

  It was difficult and time-consuming
• Why is it difficult to remember machine code bit patterns?

  They are complex and numerous
• What are the two parts of nearly all machine code instructions?

  Opcode and operand
• What do gnomic codes allow programmers to do?

  Write instructions in a more understandable format
• What type of language is assembly language classified as?

  Low-level language
• What must assembly language be before execution?

  Translated into machine code
• What are the advantages of low-level languages?

  Close control of the CPU and efficiency
• What are the disadvantages of low-level languages?

  Difficult to read, write, and debug
• What do high-level languages resemble?

  Natural language or mathematics
• What constructs do high-level languages include?

  Selection and iteration constructs
• What types of data structures do high-level languages support?

  Arrays and records
• How does a single statement in high-level languages translate?

  Usually into several machine codes
• What does a compiler do?

  Converts the whole code into machine code
• How does an interpreter work?

  Converts code one instruction at a time
• What are the advantages of high-level languages?

  Easier to write, read, and maintain
• What is a characteristic of high-level programming languages?

  They resemble natural language
• What is a disadvantage of high-level languages?

  They have to be translated
• How do translated high-level programs compare to low-level programs?

  They are comparatively slower