Objective 2: distinguish among the different generations

of programming languages.

A programming language is an artificial language which a computer programmer

uses to express his solutions to a given problem so that it can be understood by a
computer.

There are different levels of programming languages:

1) First generation or Machine Language (Low level programming

language)

2) Second generation or Assembly Language (Low level programming

language)

3) Third generation (High level programming language)

4) Fourth generation (High level programming language)

5) Fifth generation (High level programming language)

Low Level Languages are machine dependent. That is, the code written can only be
understood by the particular computer or processor that it was used to write the
code.
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Machine Language or Machine Code – In computer Science, a low level
programming language is a language that can be understood directly by a
computer’s central processing unit (CPU) namely the control unit. In the first
generation language (machine language) instructions are carried out using a set of
zero’s (0) and one’s (1) that make up the binary code.

In the second generation language called Assembly Language or Assembly Code

consists of mnemonic code which aids memory, i.e it makes it easier to remember
certain machine code. It takes the form of English like statement to accomplish
different tasks e.g. to store data into memory location number 5, it may be written
in assembly code as STO 5

High Level Languages are different from low level languages in that they are not
machine dependent. Therefore programs written in one computer can generally be
used on another similar computer. They also use keywords similar to English and
are easier to write.

Third generation languages (3GLs) are designed to be easier for you to understand.
These languages are converted to machine code, rather like translating from one
language to another, so that the computer can carry out instructions in the CPU.
Third generation supports procedural languages, which means the program will
execute sequence of instructions in a specific order. Examples are FORTRAN, BASIC,
Pascal and C.

Fourth generation language (4GLs) – A fourth generation language lets you

perform major computer operations without having to specify all the steps
involved. They permit programs to be constructed using short, English, easily
remembered commands. It enables you to specify the final objective rather than
the steps to be taken toward the goal.

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 Fifth generation languages (5GLs) are sometimes regarded as very high level
languages. They are non-procedural languages, meaning that the programmer
states the goal to be achieved, but not the steps required in order to achieve the
goal. Prolog is a fifth generation language.

Programming Advantages Disadvantages

Language

First  Code runs very fast and efficient  The programmer may become
Generation because it is directly executed by the confused with the massive amounts
CPU. of 0’s and 1’s in the program.
 You may use fewer instructions than  Modification of programs and the
the compiled version of a high level fixing of bugs are time consuming and
language difficult since the code is very hard to
read
 Machine language programs, will
work only on the type of machine for
which it was developed (CPU)
Second  In contrast to a high-level language, a  Still difficult to understand compared
Generation program written in assembly language to high level languages.
will execute faster than one written in  An assembly language program like
high level language machine language program, will work
 Assembly code is easier to read and only on the type of machine for which
develop than machine language, but it was developed (machine
can do anything that machine dependent)
language can do.  The assembly language code still has
 You may also use fewer instructions to be converted to machine language
than the compiled version of a high to be executed
level program would produce

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Third  Can use English-type words to write  The compiled code for a high-level
Generation programs code, making it easier to program may execute more slowly
create. than if it was programmed in a low
 You need not know details of the level language. It must first be
computer’s internal operation converted to machine code.
 A high –level program can be used on
a different type of computer
Fourth  Useful for generating reports  Can become very wordy
generation
 You need not know details of the  The compiled code for a high-level
computer’s internal operation program may execute more slowly
 A high –level program can be used on than if it was programmed in a low
a different type of computer level language. It must first be
converted to machine code.
Fifth  Computer will be able to  Very complex to design, programmer
Generation communicate in natural spoken must be highly trained.
language with their users.  The compiled code for a high-level
 You need not know details of the program may execute more slowly
computer’s internal operation than if it was programmed in a low
 A high –level program can be used on level language. It must first be
a different type of computer converted to machine code.