Programming Languages

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 Objectives
• Explain differences between
programming language
classifications.

• Explain differences between

programming languages.

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 Definition
• A programming language is an
artificial language designed to
communicate instructions to a
computer. Eg C++, java,python, R.

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 Categories of programming
languages

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 Categories of programming
languages

• Low level Languages

» Machine language

» Assembly Languages

• High level languages

» Procedural

» Object oriented (OOP)

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Low Level Languages

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 Categories of programming
languages

• A Low Level language is one which

exposes a significant amount of the
computer's inner workings while high
level programming languages hide
the details of the computer.

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 Machine language

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 Machine language

• Any computer can directly

understand only its own machine
language, defined by its hardware
design

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 Machine language

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 Characteristics of Machine Language

1. Instructions consists of a series of

zeros and ones
2. Not friendly to programmers
3. This is the language best understood
by the computer
4. Does not require any translation
5. Programs written in machine
language are machine/computer
dependent

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 Assembly language

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Assembly Language-Characteristics
1. Instructions are written using
partial words referred to as
mnemonics
2. Instructions require to be translated
The translations is done using an
assembler
3.Abit friendly to programmers
4. Programs written are
machine/computer dependent

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High Level Languages

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 High Level Language
• A programming language that
enables a programmer to write
programs that are more or less
independent of a particular type of
computer.

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 High Level Language
• Such languages are considered high-
level because they are closer to
human languages and further from
machine languages.
• Which other programming languages
fall in this category?

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High Level Language-Characteristics
Instructions in high level language are
refereed to as source code
1. Instructions are written in words
2. Require to be translated to machine
language
3. Friendly to programmers
4. Not machine dependent. They are
machine independent

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 High Level Language
• The main advantage of high-level
languages over low-level languages
is that they are easier to program.
These programs written in a high-
level language must be translated
into machine language by a compiler
or interpreter.
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 Procedural Language
• procedural programming could be
regarded as a list of instructions telling
a computer, step-by-step, what to do
and usually having a linear order of
execution from the first statement to
the second and so forth with occasional
loops, functions and branches.

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 Procedural Language
• Procedural programming languages
include C, C++, Fortran, Pascal, and
BASIC.

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Object Oriented Programming Languages

• The focus of OOP languages is not on

• structure, but on modeling data.

• • Programmers code using

“blueprints” of
• data models called classes.

• Examples of OOP languages include

Java, C++,Visual Basic.NET .
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 Programming languages:
Examples

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Translation of HL Languages

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 Translation of HL
Languages
• All HL programs
need to be
translated to
machine
language so that
a computer can
process the
program.

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Translation of HL Languages
• These translation can occur in two
ways;
» Block of code translated all at once

» Block of code translated one line

after another

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 Compiling

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 Compiling

• Some programs are translated using a

compiler. When programs are
compiled,

they are translated all at once.

Compiled programs typically execute

more quickly than interpreted programs,
but have a slower translation speed.
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 Interpreting

• Some programs are translated using an

interpreter. Such programs are

translated line-by-line instead of all at
once (like compiled programs).Interpreted
programs generally translate quicker than
compiled programs, but have a slower
execution speed.

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 Examples of compiled languages
1. C++
2. C
3. Pascal
4. Pike
5. SQL

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Examples of interpreted languages
1. Java
2. Python
3. Php
4. R

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 HL Programming Languages
Application domains
1. Program Development e.g Web,
Mobile, Desktop programs
2. Embedded Devices and Internet of
Things
3. Game Development
4. Cloud-based Applications
5. Cyber Security
6. Data Science and AI

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 Mobile applications
Programs developed for portable
devices.
These devices have limitations in
terms of ;processing speed, storage,
display and power

Languages used for mobile application

development include; java,
ruby,swift,html5

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 Web applications
Programs that are accessed via a web
Brower and through a connection
(internet or otherwise). Eg A.M.S,
ecitizen, facebook, instagram,
youtube, jumia, amazon,
mysafaricom…

Languages used for web application

development include; javascript, html,
php,python…

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 Desktop applications
Programs that are designed for PC’s
(Desktop and laptops). Eg ms office
(word, excel, access..)

Languages used for desktop

application development include; c++,
java, c, …

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 Video Game Development
Video game development is the process of transforming
game ideas into actual games for users to play.
Video game development is achieved through Game
engines. Game Engines are development environments
or game frameworks that make game development
more convenient.e.g Unity, Unreal Engine, Cry Engine,
Defold
Programming Languages used for video game
development include C#, C++, Java, Lua, swift, Java
Script

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 Cloud-Based Applications
A cloud application is an internet-based software
that processes or stores data online.
Cloud computing has, without a doubt, created a
new way in which technology resources are used.
This has, in turn, come with several benefits,
including enhanced security, increased speed, low
cost of development and higher productivity.
Programming languages include GoLang, Ruby on
Rails Java, Php, C, Python

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Embedded System Development

Embedded systems are computer systems

that have a dedicated function. They are
“embedded” because they exist within a
larger mechanical or electronic system.

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Programming Languages for Embedded
Systems

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 Cyber Security
Understanding programming enables
Cybersecurity professionals to study
software and find security flaws, identify
malicious codes, and carry out analytical
activities in Cybersecurity. But selecting a
computer language to learn is more
challenging than it seems.

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Programming languages for Cyber Security

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 Data Science Programming
Languages

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 Reading assignment 2
Read the article titled “Types of Computer
Languages with Their Advantages and

Disadvantages” and make short notes.

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