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Important of Programming Language

This document discusses the benefits of studying programming language concepts, including gaining a broader perspective that allows one to better communicate ideas, choose the most appropriate language for a task, more easily learn new languages, better understand how language designs are implemented, and make more informed judgments about new languages. It also provides an overview of some common programming domains and examples of languages used in each domain, such as FORTRAN and COBOL for scientific and business applications, LISP and PROLOG for artificial intelligence, C for systems programming, and scripting languages like Perl, JavaScript, and PHP for web development.

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Jaya M
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62 views

Important of Programming Language

This document discusses the benefits of studying programming language concepts, including gaining a broader perspective that allows one to better communicate ideas, choose the most appropriate language for a task, more easily learn new languages, better understand how language designs are implemented, and make more informed judgments about new languages. It also provides an overview of some common programming domains and examples of languages used in each domain, such as FORTRAN and COBOL for scientific and business applications, LISP and PROLOG for artificial intelligence, C for systems programming, and scripting languages like Perl, JavaScript, and PHP for web development.

Uploaded by

Jaya M
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Reasons for Studying Concepts of Programming Languages

or
Why take this course?

1. Increased capacity to express ideas


- small grasp of natural languages restricts communication skills
- limited knowledge programming languages and constructs limits ability
- can apply concepts from other languages to those that don’t contain them

2. Improved background for choosing appropriate language


- if you only know one language, you will use it even if not suited to task
- if you know several, will use best one
- if you know another language is better suited, may take the time to learn it

3. Increased ability to learn new language


- knowing fundamental concepts makes learning new language easier
- knowing object-oriented concepts of C++ makes learning Java easier
- in natural language, knowing a few languages makes it easer to learn another

4. Better understanding of the significance of implementation


- understanding language implementation leads to better understanding of design
- give understanding of choices of constructs and consequences of choices
- knowing implementation aids in program efficiency and debugging

5. Better use of languages already known


- languages are large and complex – you only learn a subset
- can learn about features that are previously unknown and unused

6. Overall advancement of computing


- in past, better languages not accepted because they were not well understood
- studying programming languages in general makes us better judges of new ones
Programming Domains

1. Scientific Applications – computers invented for them


- simple data structures for large number of floating-point computations
- data structures: arrays, matrices
- control structures: loops, selection
- languages had to compete with assembly languages – thus efficiency first concern
- 1957 – FORTRAN (Formula Translation) – primary use and still “best” efficiency

2. Business Applications – began in 1950’s


- special hardware developed for business (decimal data type)
- 1960 – COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language) – ANSI standard 1985
- elaborate I/O facilities for report generation
- decimal data types for accuracy
- now spreadsheets, database systems, and associated “languages”

3. Artificial Intelligence – early 1960’s


- broad area characterized by use of symbolic computation – linked lists
- absence of exact algorithms
- use of self-modifying code
- 1965 – LISP (List Processing) – functional language
- 1984 – PROLOG (Programming in Logic) – logic programming – declarative

4. Systems Programming – began in 1960’s


- systems software – operating systems and support tools
- need execution efficiency and access to low-level features
- vendor-specific languages
- 1971 – C (ANSI 1989) – for writing UNIX operating system
- low-level, easy to port, efficient, few safety restrictions

5. Scripting Languages
- early use of putting list of system commands in file, called script
- added variables, control flow statements, functions, etc.
- sh, ksh, bsh, csh – variations for UNIX
-awk – began as report generation language
- tck/tk – building X-Window applications
- Perl – combination of sh and awk – more of full-fledged language
- JavaScript & PHP for web development

6. Special-Purpose Languages
- many of them appeared (and disappeared) over the years
- RPG – produce business reports
- APT – programming machine tools
- GPSS – systems simulation

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