2.5 Programming languages and IDEs

Question 1

Low level languages

Answer 1

Machine code and assembly languages
-binary or mnemonics to represent instructions
-hardware dependant

Question 2

High level languages

Answer 2

Python, Java, etc
-use english-like keywords
-hardware independent

Question 3

Translators

Answer 3

Used to convert programming code into machine code for the computer to process
-assemblers
-compilers
-interpreters

Question 4

Assemblers

Answer 4

Translate low level assembly code into machine code

Question 5

Compilers

Answer 5

Translates an entire high level program into executable machine code in one go, runs it afterwards
-produces an executable file
-once compiled, code does not need to be translated again
-can distribute the executable so user does not need to see the source file
-compiled code runs very quickly

Question 6

Interpreters

Answer 6

Translate high level programs to machine code line by line in real time
-translates one line into machine code, runs it, repeat for the next line
-does not produce an executable file
-needs to be translated every time the program is run
-user needs the source code and interpreter to run the program
-interpreted code generally runs more slowly

Question 7

IDE

Answer 7

Integrated Development Environment - comprehensive set of tools to develop programs

Question 8

Common features of an IDE

Answer 8

-editor
-error diagnostics - debugging
-step by step progression - watch contents of different variables
-build feature - compiles and links with other needed parts of the program
-version control - revert back to last version
-run time environment - allow programmer to run the code, see the output from the IDE itself
-translator - compiler, interpreter