1
Form 5 Lesson Notes Part 1 Program & Programming
L
ESSON
O
NE
: P
ROGRAMMING
1.
A
computer program
is a series of organized instructions that directs acomputer to perform tasks. Without programs, computers are useless.
2.
A program is like a recipe. It contains a list of variables (calledingredients) and a list of statements (called directions) that tell thecomputer what to do with the variables.3.Like a recipe, a program can be written in different programminglanguages which may express the steps differently according to the programming languages syntax, but deliver the same end result.
4.
Programming
is a creation of a set of commands or instructions whichdirects a computer in carrying out a task.5.Later these commands or instructions will be compiled and / or interpretedand then transformed to executable instructions that a computer or electronic device can execute or run.
6.
Programming language
is a set of words, symbols, and code that enableshuman to communicate with computers.
7.
It is a language used for writing computer programs that direct a computer perform computation and to organize the flow of control betweenmechanical devices.8.Hundreds of programming languages exist today. Each language has itsown standard or rules for writing the commands and / or instructions.9.Examples of programming languages are :
o
Basic (Beginner’s All Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code)
o
Pascal
o
C
o
Smalltalk
2
Form 5 Lesson Notes Part 1 Program & Programming
L
ESSON
T
WO
: G
ENERATIONS
OF
P
ROGRAMMING
L
ANGUAGES
1.
Levels of programming languages :
a) Low-level language b) High-level language2.A low-level programming language is a programming language that provides little or no abstraction from a computer’s microprocessor.3.A high-level programming language is a programming language that ismore abstract, easier to use, and more portable across platform.4.
Generations of programming languages :
a)First Generation Language – machine language b)Second Generation Language – assembly languagec)Third Generation Language – COBOL, BASIC, C, Ada,Compilers, Interpreter d)Fourth Generation Language – Report Generators, QueryLanguage Application generatorse)Fifth Generation Language – natural language
5.
First and Second Generation Programming Language are Low-levelProgramming Languages.
6.
Third, Fourth and Fifth Generation Programming Language are High-Level Programming Language.
FIRST GENERATION PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE
1.
The first generation of programming language, or 1GL, is
machinelanguage
.2.Machine language is a set of instructions and data that a computer’scentral processing unit can execute directly.3.Machine language statements are written in binary code, and eachstatement corresponds to one machine action.
SECOND GENERATION PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE
1.
The second generation programming language, 2GL, is
assemblylanguage
.2.Assembly language is the human-readable notation for the machinelanguage used to control specific computer operations.
3.
An assembly language programmer writes instructions using symbolicinstruction codes that are meaningful abbreviations or mnemonics.
3
Form 5 Lesson Notes Part 1 Program & Programming
4.An assembler is a program that translates assembly language into machinelanguage.5.Since assembly language consist of human readable abbreviations, theassembler must first convert assembly language into machine-readablelanguage before the computer can readily understand its instructions.
THIRD GENERATION PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE
1.
The third generation of programming language, 3GL, or
procedurallanguage
uses a series of English-like words that are closer to humanlanguage to write instructions.2.High-level programming languages make complex programming simpler and easier to read, write and maintain.3.Programs written in a high-level programming language must be translatedinto machine language by a compiler or interpreter.4.PASCAL, FORTRAN, BASIC, COBOL, C and C++ are examples of thirdgeneration programming languages.
FOURTH GENERATION PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE
1.
The fourth generation programming language or
non-procedurallanguage
, often abbreviated as 4GL, enables users to access data in adatabase.
2.
Example: SQL can be used to query data.3.A very high-level programming language is usually limited to a veryspecific application that might use syntax which is never used in other programming languages.4.SQL, NOMAD and FOCUS are examples of fourth generation programming languages.
FIFTH GENERATION PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE
1.
The fifth generation programming language or
visual programminglanguage
is also known as
natural language
.2.It provides a visual or graphical interface, called visual programmingenvironment for creating source codes.3.Fifth generation programming allows people to interact with computerswithout needing any specialized knowledge.
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VARIABLES for Chapter 5 : PROGRAMMING
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