2.5.1 - Languages

A language close to human syntax. Not specific to any hardware so can be translated for use on any other system. They have to be translated before they can be executed

• Ease of use • Easy to understand • Easy to communicate with other programmers

• Increased memory usage • Require more processing power

Python, C++, Java

The code for a program written in a high level language. This needs to be translated into machine code

A language that is closer to machine code than human language.

The binary instructions that a processor can understand, follow, and then execute

Gives more flexibility for programmers to do what they want

• Hard to understand and write • This makes it harder to spot errors and debug

A low level language that uses mnemonics and is closely related to machine code

Code that can be understood by a processor (basically machine code)

• They covert computer languages into machine code so the computer can understand it and run it • They can identify any errors during translation

Compiler, Interpreter

• Translates the program in one go meaning the running of the program is subsequently faster • Translates the program in one go meaning errors can be spotted without needing to run the program • Produces an executable file that doesn’t need to be compiled again • No need for the compiler to be present when the object code is run

• High level are easy to understand whilst low level are hard to understand • High level languages have to be translated before they can be run but low level languages often don’t need to be translated to be run

• Translates one line at a time so the exact line where the error is can be found • Require less available memory

• Run slower as each line needs to be translated before it can be run • The program has to be translated every time it is run • Source code program has to be supplied as they don’t produce an executable file. This could lead to unauthorised modification