4.2 Software TYPES OF PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE, TRANSLATORS AND INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENTS (IDES)

Question 1

Define machine code

Answer 1

The list of instructions that a CPU can process, written in binary.

Question 2

Name the two types of programming languages (2)

Answer 2

High level lanugages

low level languages

Question 3

Advantages of high level languages (5)

Answer 3

easier to read, write and understand programs

No knowledge of underlying hardware required

quicker to write programs

programs are easier and quicker to debug

easier to maintain programs in use

Question 4

disadvantages of high level languages (3)

Answer 4

programs can be larger

programs can take longer to execute

programs may not be able to make use of special hardware

Question 5

Advantages of low level languages (4)

Answer 5

can make use of special hardware

includes special machine dependent instructions

can write code that doesn’t take up much space in the primary memory

can write code that performs tasks very quickly

Question 6

Disadvantages of low level languages (2)

Answer 6

programs more difficult to understand

takes longer time to write and debug programs

Question 7

Name one type of low level language (1)

Answer 7

assembly language

Question 8

Feature of assembly language

Answer 8

uses short abbreviations known as mnemonics

Question 9

Which type of translator translates assembly language into machine code

Answer 9

assembler

Question 10

Define assembler

Answer 10

A type of translator that translates assembly language into machine code.

Question 11

What are the 3 types of translators

Answer 11

interpreters

compilers

assemblers

Question 12

Define translator

Answer 12

Software that translates code into machine code to be executed by the CPU.

Question 13

Features of interpreters (3)

Answer 13

translates and executes the code
line-by-line

stops execution when an error is
found

Since an interpreter translates code each time a program is run, the interpreter software is required every time you run the program.

Question 14

Features of compilers ()

Answer 14

translates the whole code at once before executing it, producing an executable file

A compiler provides an error report for the whole
code if errors are detected (unable to run program until error is fixed)

Once a program has been compiled the compiler software is no longer required to run the program, as an executable file has been produced.

Question 15

Which programming languages does the compiler and intrepreter translate

Answer 15

high level lanugages

Question 16

Advantages of compilers (2)

Answer 16

The executable file produced by the compiler will execute quicker than interpreted code.

An executable file (object code) is produced which can be executed without the compiler or other additional software.

Question 17

Disadvantages of compilers (3)

Answer 17

The compilation process can take time, which slows down testing.

The executable file created by the compiler (object code) is not cross-platform.

Code must be free of syntax errors before compilation can succeed.

Question 18

Advantages of intrepreters (2)

Answer 18

Code can be tested even if it contains errors, up to the point of the error. This aids debugging.

The edit–test process is faster as there is no need to wait for the compilation process. This can speed up debugging.

Question 19

Disadvantages of interpreters (2)

Answer 19

Interpretation slows down the execution of code.

Interpreter software is required every time the code is executed.

Question 20

Define IDE

Answer 20

software application specifically designed to help programmers create software

Question 21

Features of IDE (7)

Answer 21

Code editor- allowing code to be entered.

Code formatting(prettyprint) - indentation and syntax highlighting, to make code easier to read

Auto-complete - offers a list of options when programmers start to type key words.

Auto-correction - corrects minor typing mistakes, similar to auto-correct in a word processor.

A translator (a compiler and/or an interpreter) built in for convenience.

A run time environment- allow programs to be run and tested within the IDE.

Error diagnostics- highlights potential errors in code and provides hints and suggestions about possible solutions.

Question 22

Define low level language

Answer 22

languages that sit close to a computer’s instruction set. These are basic instructions that the CPU will understand

Question 23

Define high - level language

Answer 23

languages which use English-like statements which allow users to program with easy code