High Level Language

Definition of Terms

Program: A computer program is a sequence of related instruction (command) that tell the computer
how to accomplish a specific task. A program can also be defined as a set of instruction that is executed
by the CPU.

Programming: Programming is the act of writing computer program. A computer program are written by
trained and qualify people called programmer.

Computer language: Computer language is a language used by, or associated with the computer.

Computer Programming Language: A computer programming language is an artificial language that can
be used to control the behavior of a machine particularly a computer. Programming language is a means
through which programmer communicate with the computer in solving different categories of problems.
A set of rules governing how the words in the language are written is called syntax and the meaning
associated with each word is called semantic. Markup languages like HTML are generally not regarded as
programming languages, but they are computer language. Programming language foster the
communication of programs among programmers and computer; markup language communicate the
formatting or structure of document among human and computer.

High Level Language: These are programming languages that allow for programs to be written in forms
that are readable to human beings. A high level language is a programming language that, in comparison
to low level programming languages, may be more abstract, easier to use, or more portable across
platforms.

Example of High Level Languages

PASCAL

BASIC (Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code)

C ++

Java

FORTRAN (Formula Translation)

COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language)

PROLOG

ALGOL (Algorithmic language)

APL (A Programming Language)

RPG (Report Program Generator)

Python

 
Classification of High Level Language According to Use

a.    Scientific: These languages are oriented towards the computational procedures for solving
mathematical and statistical problem. Examples are BASIC, FOTRAN. AlGOL, APL.

b.   Business Data Processing: These languages emphasize their capabilities for maintaining data
processing procedures and files handling problems. Examples are COBOL and Prolog.

c.    Artificial Intelligence (AI) :

d.   String Processing

e.    Object Oriented Programming Language: In OOP, the computer program is divided into objects.
Examples:

·       C++

·       Java

f.     General purpose: They are used for general purpose programming. Examples are:

·       C

·       PASCAL

·       PL/I (Programming Language, Version I)

g.   Special purpose programming language: This language had a special purpose for which they are
developed. Examples are:

·       SNOBOL (String-Oriented Symbolic Language)

h.   Visual programming language: These are designed to for building window-based applications.
Examples are:

·       Visual Basic

·       Visual Java

·       Visual C

i.      Artificial intelligence (AI) string and List processing

·       Lisp (List processing)

·       Prolog (program Logic)

High Level Languages according to mode of execution

1.   Interpreted

Interpreted languages are read and are executed directly with no compilation stage. E.g. BASIC, ASP, Lisp
and Logo
2.   Compiled Language

Compiled languages are transformed into executable form before running. E.g. PASCAL, COBOL, C, and
FORTRAN

Features of Some High Level Languages

High Level Language Features

1.   FORTRAN 1.   Ideal for scientific application

2.   Uses mathematical notation

2.   COBOL 1.   Ideal for business application

2.   English like

3.   BASIC 1.   Interactive

2.   Easy to learn

3.   Uses mathematical notation

4.   Pascal 1.   Scientifically oriented

2.   Focuses on structured programming.

5.   C 1.   Structured programming

2.   General purpose programming

3.   Procedural language

Advantages of HLL

1.   User friendly

2.   Easier to learn

3.   They are easier to maintain

4.   Machine independent

5.   Requires less time to write

ASSIGNMENT

1. HIGHLIGHT THE AREAS OF APPLICATION OF HIGH LEVEL LANGUAGE IN THE SOCIETY

Definition of Graphics Packages

A graphics package is an application that can be used to create and manipulate images on a computer.

There are two main types of graphics package:

1. Painting packages: A painting package produces images by changing the colour of pixels on the
screen.

Note: a pixel is a smallest unit of a digital image that can be displayed and represented on a digital
display device.

2. Drawing packages: A drawing package produces images that are made up from coloured lines and
shapes such as circles, squares and rectangles.

Examples of graphics packages include:

a. MS Paint

b. PC Paintbrush

c. Adobe Photoshop

d. JASC’s Paint Shop Pro

e. CorelDraw

f. Micrographix Designer

g. AutoCAD.

Features of CorelDraw Environment

1. Title Bar: It is the first bar in the screen of any opened application. It gives information about the
program which you are working on and also the name used in saving the document.

2. Menu bar: Menu bar is the area containing pull-down menu options.CorelDraw as a program has
Eleven (11) menus, they include, File, Edit, View,Layout, Arrange, Effect, Bitmap, Texts, Tools Window
and Help menu. Each menu has its own function. When clicked on, sub-menu list appears

3. Toolbar: A detachable bar that contains shortcuts to menu and other command
4. Property Bar: A detachable bar with commands that relate to the active tool or object. For example,
when the text tool is active, the text property bar displays commands that create and edit text.

5. The Rule: The rule (horizontal and vertical rule) enables us to determine the size and position of
objects in a drawing

6. Drawing page: The area inside the drawing window. It is the printable area of your work area. Any
work done outside of the printable page will not be printed

7. Drawing window: The area outside the drawing page bordered by the scroll bars and application
controls

8. Color Palette: a dockable that contains color swatches.

9. Docker: A window containing available commands to settings relevant to a specific tool or task

10. Toolbox: A floating bar with tools for creating, filling and modifying objects in the drawing

11. Status bar: An area at the bottom of the application window that contains information about object
properties. The status bar also shows the current mouse position

12. Document Navigator: The area at the bottom of the application window that contains controls for
moving between pages and adding pages.