Programming Concepts
It is the sequence of instructions in which the problems of computer tasks and steps are
performed with the help of computer. A person who writes or performs the program is known as
programmer. Programmer uses some specific languages to write program which is known as
programming languages e.g. C++, Java, etc.
Programming Language
It is a set of keywords, symbols and a system of rules for constructing statements by which
humans can communicate instructions to be executed by a computer.
Programming languages are mainly categorised into three parts which are as follows
Low Level Language
These programming languages are more arcane and difficult to understand. It is designed to
operate and handle the entire instruction set of a computer system directly which are generally
used to write the system software, e.g. Machine language and Assembly language.
Machine Language
It is the only language understood by the computers. Sometimes, it referred to as machine code
or object code or binary language. It is a collection of binary digits (0 or 1) or bits that the
computer reads and interprets.
Assembly Language
It is a low level programming language which is used as an interface with computer hardwares. It
uses structured commands as substitutions for numbers, allowing humans to read the code
easier than looking at binary codes.
Medium Level Language
It serves as the bridge between raw hardware and programming layer of a computer system. It is
designed to improve the translated code before it is executed by the processor. C language is
known as medium level language.
High Level Language (HLL)
It is an advanced computer programming language that is not limited to one computer, designed
for a specific job and is easier to understand. The main advantage of high level languages over
low level languages is that they are easier to read, write and understand, e.g. BASIC, C,
FORTRAN, Java, Pascal, etc.
Some High Level Languages and Their Application Areas
Language Year Developer Application Area Nature
FORTRAN 1957 a team of Calculation Compiled
(Formula programmers at
Translation) IBM
ALGOL 1958 A commitee of Scientific purpose Compiled
(Algorithmic European and
Language) American
computer
scientists
LISP (List 1958 John McCarthy Artificial Compiled and
Processing) at the intelligence Interpreted
Massachusetts
Institute of
Technology
(MIT)
COBOL 1959 Grace Hopper Business Compiled
(Common management.
Business string oriented
Oriented
Language)
BASIC 1964 John G. Programming for Interpreted
(Beginner's All Kemeny and educational
purpose Thomas E. purpose
Symbolic Kurtz at
Instruction Dartmouth
Code) college in New
Hampshire
Pascal 1970 Niklaus Wirth Education Compiled
C 1972 Dennis Ritchie System Compiled
at Bell Labs programming
C++ 1983 Bjarne System object Compiled
Stroustrup at programming
Bell Labs
Java 1995 James Gosling Internet oriented Compiled and
at Sun programming Interpreted
Microsystems
Program Documentation
It is a kind of documentation that gives a comprehensive procedural description of a
program. It shows as to how
software is written. The program documentation describes what exactly a program
does by mentioning about the
requirements of the input data and effect of performing a programming task.
De-Bugging
It is the process of locating and fixing or bypassing bugs (errors) in computer
program code. To debug any program, first separate the source of problem and then
correct it.
Language Translator
It helps in converting programming languages to machine language.
The translated program is called the object code. Depending upon used programming
languages, language translator are divided into three categories which are as follows
Assembler
It converts a program written in assembly language into machine language. Assembly language
consists of mnemonic codes, which are difficult to learn and are machine dependent.
Some basic functions of an assembler are as follows
(a) Replaces mnemonic codes by machine codes.
(b) Replaces symbolic addresses by numeric addresses.
(c) Determines machine representation for constants.
Interpreter
It converts a HLL program into machine language by converting it line-by-line. If there is any error
in any line, it stops the execution of the program
immediately and reports the user at the same time and program execution cannot resume until
the error is rectified by the user. Interpreter is very useful for debugging and suitable for novice
programmer. This is a slow process and consumes less memory space.
Compiler
It converts HLL program into machine language, which can be understood by the processor. For
each high level language, the machine requires a separate compiler. A compiler creates a unique
object program, i.e. if a source program is compiled, there is no need of that source program
because output can be obtained by executing that object program (copy created by the
compilation of source code). Compiler converts the entire HLL program in one go and reports all
the errors of the program along with the line numbers.
Algorithm
It is an effective method that can be expressed within a finite amount of space and time and in a
well-defined formal language for calculating a function.
The desirable features of an algorithm are
(i) Each step of algorithm should be simple.
(ii) It must and in a finite number of steps.
(iii) It should be as efficient as possible.
(iv) It should be unambiguous in the sense that the logic should be crisp and clear.
(v) It should be effective, i.e. it must lead to a unique solution of the problem.
Flowchart
It is a type of diagram that represents an algorithm work flow or process, showing the steps as
boxes of various kinds, and their order by connecting them with arrows. Flowcharts are used in
analysing, designing, documenting or managing a process or program in various fields. The two
most common types of boxes in a flowchart are
(i) A processing step, usually called activity and denoted as a rectangular box.
(ii) A decision, usually denoted as a diamond.
Note:-
Pseudo code is not a programming language, but simply an informal way, of describing a
program. It does not follow any syntax strictly.
Control structure is a statement or block of statements in a programming language that
determined the control flow or sequence of execution of other instructions or statements.
Looping is a control structure which is used in a program to execute a particular set of
statements repeatedly.
